On January 6, 2010, I had just taken my son Aidan to a heart appointment and WIC appointment and was getting him out of his car seat to feed him when I realized he was unresponsive. Screaming in heartache, I ran down the stairs to call 911.
Aidan was rushed to the Children’s Hospital in an ambulance as I followed behind with my dad.
There, I remember seeing his tiny body laying on a huge bed as I passed the operating room to the family waiting room. I waited for what seemed like forever when the doctor came in and said, “ I’m so sorry we did everything we could.”
I fell to the floor in pain.
The doctor took me into the operating room were my son’s body was lying lifeless on the bed. He was 2 months and 6 days old, born just 8 weeks earlier on October 31, 2009. Diagnosed before birth with a congenital heart defect, I was told he had a 50/50 chance and would need several surgeries before age 2.
The day Aidan passed away, I was asked by a nurse if I would like photographs of my son. This was when I found out about Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. A photographer by the name of Michelle came to the hospital and took pictures of Aidan and me and I am forever grateful for these pictures of my sweet Aidan.
Eleven years later, these photographs still mean as much to me now as they did the day I received them. I love and appreciate the work Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep does for bereaved parents and am forever grateful to our photographer.
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I lost my second son, Brett Michael Jr, only 2 hrs after he was born, from complications with NAIT (neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia). I WISH with everything inside of me that I had/could have more pictures. It was so sudden and I couldn’t even comprehend what was happening, as i had just woken up from anesthesia after an emergency c-section. I WISH PEOPLE could understand how important and NOT weird or awkward it is to photograph babies, and their families, after they pass. It is literally the only “physical” memories you will ever have. I wish i could go back. More so, i wish my son was still here❤️ Prayers to you, and may Aidan sleep in Peace???