After a mother was air lifted to another hospital, the baby was going to be transferred to the morgue. When Lacey Sexson received a call to serve the family, and learned the mother and baby were not ever going to be together again, she advocated and made sure the baby was transferred more than an hour away, so she could take pictures of them together. Lacey did something so thoughtful, and more than likely life changing for a mother and her journey with being a loss parent. It’s likely that the mother has no idea what Lacey did for her, and it’s important that Lacey knows that her quick thinking does not go unnoticed. Below, in Lacey’s humble words, shared by her Area Coordinator, Sarah Love, is her story to making sure a mother was able to hold her baby.

“I am a new volunteer in for NILMDTS currently located in Albuquerque, New Mexico where my family has repatriated after living abroad for over 8 years. My heart has always led me in the direction of women and motherhood. While living abroad, I met family who had suffered a terrible loss and had a beautiful keepsake print of their “Angel Baby” pridefully displayed on their family wall. In the years following, I photographed their family, and we continued to fill their wall around Lily, to include the birth of their Rainbow baby, Aspen Rose. In their words, “our take home baby girl.” This never left me. I was inspired by their progressive, confident and outward expression of undying and forever love.

I knew I would serve others someday and give them the gift of a tangible piece/peace of love. Recently, in an early morning call from another city over an hour and a half away from me in New Mexico, a concerned nurse (a loss Mom herself) called me directly to request photos of an infant left behind in their hospital. Mom had suffered an abruption which led to the demise of a healthy 32-week-term baby and her own near death. This resulted in her emergency evacuation to Albuquerque trauma center for life-threatening needs, without her baby. This triggered the desperate Mommy in me and I begged this nurse to help this Mother meet her baby, hold him and say the proper loving goodbye they each deserve. I promised that if she could make this happen, I would be there for her and to capture those images. The images that would mean the most.

With her help and our desire to bring this baby home to his mother, I was there to capture both the introduction and their loving goodbye. It was a wild team effort. Everyone, all staff from two distant hospitals, brought her son home to her arms, warmed him and gave Mom, Dad and their family the most important love and kindness we could provide.”

Lacey Sexson has been a NILMDTS Photographer since August 2019 and has taken 12 sessions.

From the bottom of all our hearts, from NILMDTS Staff and Volunteer Leadership, we thank you very much for all your efforts in serving your local families!

If you have a suggestion of a volunteer who should receive a shoutout in our monthly spotlight, please email volunteercoordinators@nilmdts.org.