It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of one of our cherished volunteers, Dan Chavez.

For nine years, Dan faithfully served Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep as an Affiliated Photographer, Dispatcher, and Level 3 Digital Retouch Artist. During that time, he provided remembrance photography services to 118 families, leaving a lasting impact not only on those he served, but also on the countless volunteers, medical professionals, and staff members who had the privilege of knowing him.

Dan's commitment to NILMDTS was deeply personal. Before he ever learned about our organization, he experienced the heartbreaking loss of his granddaughter. In the midst of that grief, his instinct was to serve. He provided photographs for his family, recognizing the immeasurable value of preserving precious memories during unimaginable loss. When he later discovered NILMDTS, he found a meaningful way to use his talents to help other families facing similar heartbreak.

His Area Coordinator, Amee, reflected on Dan's dedication:

"I had the honor of meeting Dan when I began volunteering with NILMDTS and was immediately struck not only by his passion for helping NILMDTS families, but also his optimism for what the gift of his time and talent could do for these families in their healing process.

Before Dan was even aware of NILMDTS and its mission, he experienced the tragic loss of his granddaughter. His immediate reaction was to provide an essential service to her parents: photographs of their family and daughter.

Dan was always present. He was always active. He was always among the first to be available to support these families. He wasn't afraid to share his viewpoints and opinions, but he was also the first to volunteer his time and energy to help create solutions. Dan spent countless hours building relationships with local hospitals, improving communication, and ensuring our services were available whenever families needed them.

Not only was he completing multiple DRA sessions each month and photographing hospital sessions, but he was also helping bridge communication gaps between our team and hospital staff. Dan is sorely missed by everyone on our team. I miss his encouragement for our mission, his friendship, and the support of someone I deeply trusted, respected, and admired. I pray his family feels comfort knowing that what he left behind is deeply felt and appreciated, both within NILMDTS and through the friendships and love we shared with him and his family."

Dan's willingness to serve never went unnoticed. Fellow volunteer Karen shared:

"Before I first met Dan, I had heard many great things about him: his creative photography, kind soul, and generous spirit. When I was recruiting new photographers for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, his name was immediately suggested. As you know, this volunteer position requires a gentle approach to a sensitive subject. Even before I learned of Dan's personal loss of his precious granddaughter, I knew he would be a great addition to our team.

He willingly shared the story of his 'why' for joining the group, and he saw it as the perfect way to use his talents to ease the grief of losing a little one.

Dan was a close friend and an integral part of our NILMDTS team, often being the first to volunteer for a session. He gladly trained new photographers, offering one-on-one lighting lessons and sharing his digital retouching expertise. He wanted the very best for our team and rightfully earned the title of Digital Retouch Artist of the Year after meeting his goal of completing at least one session every month.

Dan gave his all to NILMDTS. His loss is deeply felt by our team and the entire community."

His dedication to families was evident in every interaction. Fellow volunteer Catherine recalled:

"As the dispatcher for the Tucson area for NILMDTS, I was always so grateful for Dan's willingness to step up when other photographers were unavailable. He went above and beyond to give families these precious photographs.

Just a few weeks ago, we had a family who desperately wanted pictures, but due to a delayed delivery, it was very late in the evening. Dan agreed to go despite the late hour. Afterward, he commented that he felt a bit annoyed driving to the hospital so late, but when he arrived and saw the family's gratitude, he knew it was worth the trip.

Dan will be greatly missed by our team in Tucson."

Dan's impact extended far beyond the families he served. He was a valued member of the NILMDTS community, a trusted teammate, and a friend to many. Jess, Director of Volunteer Services, shared the following reflection:

"Dan was one of the most encouraging, positive people you could ever hope to meet. No matter what challenges he encountered, he would always manage to find a bright side to things. He had a way of infusing humor and optimism into every conversation that will be sorely missed.

Dan and I spent a good deal of time working through some tech troubles together in the last few months. No matter how frustrating it got, he would say, 'We'll get there!' and that spirit was contagious. We swapped iPhone tips and NILMDTS stories. He bragged on his local team and how happy he was to see so many families being served, and I got to hear about his adventures working overseas.

Dan's belief in the NILMDTS mission, his love for his family, his ability to see the beauty in everything, and his outlook on the world in general are characteristics I will never forget.

Thank you for everything, Dan. Sending you all the gold stars, my friend."

Dan's legacy will live on through the families he served, the volunteers he mentored, the hospitals he connected with, and the friendships he built along the way.

We are grateful for the impact he had on NILMDTS as a whole, the 118 families he served, and each person who had the privilege of knowing him. We are keeping his family, friends, and fellow "NILMDTS pals" in our thoughts as we remember and celebrate a life dedicated to serving others.

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.