Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep

This past year I've had the fortune of meeting and working with some extraordinary photographers in the DC area. From weddings to workshops, social gatherings and dinners, we've come to know each other pretty well in a professional and personal way. It was from these friendships (particularly Sarah Hodzic, Mary Kate McKenna and Julia MacInnis) that have brought me to my newest adventure/charity: NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP FOUNDATION. Of all the things I've done in this lifetime, I can say that being apart of this organization ranks right up there with being a guide for disabled athletes in the NYC and Marine Corps Marathons.


Pregnancy and birth are miraculous journeys. This amazing time of life is full of mystery, anticipation, joy, hope, and wonder. Feeling the powerful energy of birth and new life, watching as a new family is born unto each other. These things humble and amaze. These are the things that we celebrate when a baby is born.

But there is another aspect of pregnancy and birth. There is an unexpected place in this journey where some families may find themselves. When a baby dies, a world is turned upside down. There is confusion, sadness, fear, and uncertainty that cannot be explained. There is sorrow where there should have been joy. During this time, it might be impossible for families to know what they might need in order to heal in the future.

This is the place where the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation gently provides a helping hand and a healing heart. For families overcome by grief and pain, the idea of photographing their baby may not immediately occur to them. Offering gentle and beautiful photography services in a compassionate and sensitive manner is the heart of this organization. The soft, gentle heirloom photographs of these beautiful babies are an important part of the healing process. They allow families to honor and cherish their babies, and share the spirits of their lives.

The Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation (NILMDTS) administers a network of almost 6,000 volunteer photographers in the United States and twenty-five international countries. At a family's request, a NILMDTS Affiliated Photographer will come to your hospital or hospice location and conduct a sensitive and private portrait session. The portraits are then professionally retouched and presented to the families on an archival DVD or CD that can be used to print portraits of their cherished baby.

Our entire network of affiliated photographers graciously donates their time and talents to our families and we are proud to be able to offer our services at no cost. And now I'm proud to say that I am one of these photographers for the Washington, DC area.

So ladies, thank you for letting me be a part of this wonderful gift.

If you would like to donate or learn more about this organization, please visit there website: www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org