The power of a nurse is unmatched. It is lasting. It is impactful.

Vivian. Lakeatta. Jana.

Years later, I can still name the nurses who helped me through the labor and delivery process when my son died. They were gracious, kind, and steady during the darkest moments of my life. They advocated for me when my brain could not process what was happening around me. They helped guide me through impossible decisions and created space for the few precious moments I had holding my son. Their compassion and care left a lasting mark on my heart.

When I became an Affiliated Photographer with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, I knew nurses were often the connection between our services and the families who said yes to photography. What I did not expect was to meet a nurse who would leave a lasting impact not only on the families we served, but on me as a volunteer.

Nobuko.

She is kind, gracious, loving, and endlessly compassionate. She goes above and beyond for every patient she cares for, and she is the reason so many families in Seattle receive NILMDTS services each year.

Nobuko embodies the role nurses play in the work we do at NILMDTS. Nurses are often the backbone of our organization’s mission. They are the connector between families and our services, the person supporting grieving parents through labor and delivery, and the advocate encouraging families to create tangible memories of their baby. They help ease the hesitation families may feel at the thought of inviting a stranger into their room to capture memories through photography. Their guidance, advocacy, and compassionate presence create a lasting impact and make it possible for families to receive the gift of remembrance photography.

Nobuko shared this about her experience working alongside NILMDTS volunteers:

“I have been deeply touched by how NILMDTS photographers honor the life of a baby. Your service provides an invaluable keepsake for them. Also it gives me a sense of peace while quietly sharing sorrow with them. You support families but also support nurses and staff who are at their bedside. I truly appreciate your presence.

Mel, your ability to connect with the family, facing the most difficult time is something I admire. Your connection is a gift to them. There is an art of healing you provide while gently exploring the toes, the hands, and all the precious details of the baby with them.

I am so grateful to work with you. You do work that doesn’t have a value — it really is priceless.”

The impact Nobuko has on families and volunteers alike does not go unnoticed.

Ana shared:

“Nobuko has been such an incredible support to the families and photographers involved with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. The compassion and care she brings to every session does not go unnoticed. She consistently goes above and beyond for the families in her unit, helping create space for meaningful memories during some of the hardest moments imaginable. Her kindness, dedication, and gentle presence make a lasting impact on everyone fortunate enough to work alongside her.”

Jeremy reflected on the thoughtful care Nobuko brings into every session:

“Nobuko is a caring and thoughtful nurse, from having mementos to incorporate into the photos to being an expert at helping position the child or suggesting beautiful poses. All the while she makes sure the parents are taken care of and shows their child the love and care it deserves.”

Nurses like Nobuko remind us that remembrance photography is never created by volunteers alone. It is made possible through the compassion, advocacy, and dedication of medical professionals who walk alongside families through unimaginable loss. Their work changes lives, and their impact is something families carry with them forever.

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.