Fresh 48
This fresh 48 photo session will always hold a special place in my heart for so many reasons. Jessica contacted me and asked if I did newborn photo sessions in hospitals. I had never done a “Fresh 48” photo session so this would be a new challenge for me. The other important part of this story is that it would take place in Grey Nuns Hospital.
Returning to Grey Nuns
Our first baby, Ella, was born at the Grey Nuns and it is a place that I associate extremely strong emotions with and for the most part, sadness, grief and loss. I explained this to Jessica and she was so understanding and sympathetic . You see, another part of this story is that this was not Jessica’s first baby to be born at the Grey Nuns but rather her Rainbow Baby.
Lou
Her first baby, Lou, was born still at Grey Nuns, just like Ella. Jessica gave me time to think about whether I could handle this photo session and I took time to think if I could really do it. I went with my heart and my heart was filled with excitement and joy. I could GIVE this wonderful gift to a family that had experienced such heartache and loss and at the same time I could revisit the place where Ella was born and hopefully help myself in my journey of healing. Rainbow baby photo shoots are exactly this! Giving to a family that I can help and relate to AND keep Ella’s memory alive and close to me in my own journey. My Rainbow Baby sessions bring me such incredible joy that it is hard to put into words.
Emelia
My experience with Jessica, Laurence and Emelia was everything that I hoped it would be. I was able to focus on their new baby girl and try to give them the best photos possible to remember their first few days with Emelia. Jessica was so honest, calm, kind AND such a great mom. Laurence was ready to do anything to make Jessica comfortable and to help out with Emelia as much as possible. I loved it when he kept asking Jessica if she needed more water to drink…for some reason that brought back sweet memories of my husband doing the same thing when I gave birth to my three boys following Ella.
A New Chapter
Throughout this fresh 48 session, we talked about Lou, Emelia’s big sister who will forever watch over her. I hope that I helped them by talking about my experiences with losing Ella and going on to have three wonderful boys. It has been over 14 years since losing Ella and talking with Jessica and Laurence brought back many emotions and memories. Although the grief will never go away, time eases the pain immensely and I hope talking about some of my life experiences will help them as they start this new and joyous chapter in their lives.
I send many blessings and love to these new parents and sweet sweet Emelia.
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