Like many families, Elizabeth Biersgreen first learned about Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep when she needed to utilize our services for her daughter, Isabella, in June 2017. “I didn’t know that this sort of organization existed,” Elizabeth reflected. “I didn’t even know babies could die full term until ours did in the NICU.” 

Elizabeth wrote a personal blog post in 2017, soon after Isabella passed away, reflecting on how hesitant she initially was to take photographs. Years later, she’s grateful that she did.

“I don’t think we would have held our daughter after she died unless we did these photos. Having photos taken of the three of us normalized it to hold her… We looked at the photos as soon as they came in, but it took years for us to be able to look back and see, yes, she had trauma from the resuscitation efforts and NICU interventions, but she looked like us. She was beautiful and perfectly formed. If we hadn’t had the photos, I would only have the memories of the trauma.”

Elizabeth’s photographer captured photographs of baby Isabella and their whole family, including Elizabeth’s mother, who sadly passed away nine months after Isabella. The photo of all three women - Elizabeth, her mom, and her daughter - is one she cherishes. 

Six years after having Isabella, Elizabeth found herself wanting to give back. She ran into the local Albuquerque Area Coordinator and mentioned she wished there was a way to be involved, even though she is not a photographer. The Area Coordinator encouraged Elizabeth to apply to a non-photographer role, and she’s been serving as an Assistant to Photographer since June 2023. 

As an assistant, Elizabeth accompanies Affiliated Photographers to sessions, helping with lighting, posing, paperwork, and generally interacting with the families. It’s the last responsibility where Elizabeth thrives. She thinks of her own experience and hesitancy when she volunteers, and gently encourages parents to take the photos while they have the chance. “This is a way to be Isabella’s mom,” Elizabeth states. And to her, NILMDTS photography is “a way that other people can be their child’s parents. They can hold them, and kiss them, and touch them. I knew I wanted to be a part of that and give other parents a chance to hold their child. I wanted to normalize that.” 

Over the last 18 months, Elizabeth has been part of 13 sessions, encouraging parents to interact with their babies while they have the opportunity. One session that stands out involved a father who wanted his baby to see the sun, so the photos were taken on a hospital playground. “There are so many things as parents we want to do with our kids,” Elizabeth remembered. “This was the only chance he would get to see the sunshine on his daughter’s face, and he did. Not the way he wanted, but he held his daughter in the sunshine. It was amazing to get to be part of that.” Another night, she advocated for a parent to be the one to put their baby in a diaper, rather than the nurse. Describing the moment, Elizabeth said, “That parent had his first chance to put on his daughter’s diaper. Probably her only diaper he got to change. As a parent, you expect to do thousands of diapers - and I’m grateful that he got to do one.” 

“Had somebody told me 10 years ago that I would be totally comfortable and that it would be a gift to walk into rooms where babies had passed, I would have never believed them. Ever.”

Elizabeth continued, “Through Isabella, and then having done over a dozen sessions at this point, I can go and do things that I didn’t think I could have. It’s not hard. Hard was watching Isabella die, and the aftermath of that. Being able to be next to parents as they go through that, even for a short period of time, it’s a gift, because people walked alongside us.” 

The abundant compassion and care Elizabeth shows to the families is a gift that led to Elizabeth’s recognition as the 2024 Assistant to Photographer of the Year. She’s honored to be part of the team that makes these sessions possible, emphasizing that it’s only accomplished as a team: Dispatcher, Assistant, Area Coordinator, Affiliated Photographer, and Digital Retouch Artist. 

Volunteering is a way Elizabeth can be Isabella’s mom, and she sees it as a chance to give that gift to others. She reflected, “I think it’s the most worthwhile photography that can be done - for the photos, yes, and to give the parents a chance to be seen, the chance to be parents to this child that they will never be able to parent in the way they expected.” When asked what she would say to someone thinking about volunteering, Elizabeth encouraged, “It’s worth trying. You will know pretty quickly if it is something you want to continue.” 

Isabella’s legacy lives on through the work Elizabeth is doing to care for others in similar circumstances. She has no idea what the ripple effects will be - she notes that the photographer who took her pictures, after all, didn’t know that Elizabeth would go on to volunteer six years later. But she’s grateful to make an impact, and that Isabella’s story is making an impact. Thinking on those families she’s served, Elizabeth said,

“Thank you. I know most people don’t get to meet your child, so thank you for letting me meet your baby. Sometimes I am one of a dozen people that can meet this baby the whole family loves and has been anticipating. That’s a very sacred, unique experience that I don’t take lightly. Thank you for the opportunity to meet them and be a part of this.” 

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, a dedicated 501(c)(3) non-profit, offers families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss with complimentary remembrance portraits, capturing precious moments with their babies. Your generous donation can help us extend this heartfelt service to more families in need. Please consider supporting us here.