Missing Noah in pictures...part 8

Missing Noah in pictures...part 7

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep

As some of you know, we had a photographer come and take pictures of our family on the day we took Noah off of the ventilator.  This service was provided free of charge through an organization called Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep and an amazing photographer named Monica Carroll.

This organization matches families experiencing the loss or anticipated loss of an unborn or newborn child with a professional photographer. The photographs are a great source of comfort and healing for the families in the weeks and months following their overwhelming loss.

NILMDTS is having their annual fund drive.... please read the information below if you are interested in making a donation.

With the Month of October being recognized as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, The Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Foundation holds its Annual Fund Drive for six weeks starting in mid-September and ending in October. It is our hope that those in a place to make even a small contribution to NILMDTS will consider doing so allowing the organization to provide adequate resources, training, communication and tools necessary in support our amazing contingent of professional photographers who provide the gift of free remembrance portraiture to families in need.

Your donations help the organization in many ways -

• By supporting the continued education of our volunteer photographers
  
• By allowing us to further our outreach to hospitals and hospices across the world
  
• By offsetting the costs associated with outreach efforts including Formal NILMDTS Training Seminars
  
• By supporting the Family Forum which creates a productive and supportive haven for healing
  
• By supporting the Photographers' Forum which provides a helpful environment for our member photographers to express their feelings and receive advice on the various issues that they face in this noble work
  
• By supporting the day to day operations of our Headquarters Offices
  

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep is recognized as an IRS 501(c)3 charitable organization (Tax ID#77-0656322) and your donations are always entirely tax deductible. When you donate, you will receive a thank you card that serves as your receipt as well as an enclosed card you may to send to the family of whomever you made the donation in memory of.

With an average of 2-million hits per month on our web site, imagine if everyone contributed just $5 to the organization!

Your donation truly will make a significant difference in the continued success of NILMDTS.

There are several ways that you can donate to NILMDTS today.

The first and easiest is to donate through our secure website by clicking here. NILMDTS is run 100% on donations and we truly could not provide the support necessary to our photographer volunteers without the kind generosity of donors like you.

You can also pledge your support through iGive.com, an online shopping portal where a portion of all supported purchases you make online are automatically donated to NILMDTS.
Click here for more information and to register!

You may also send a check to our mailing address:

NILMDTS Annual Fund Drive

7800 S. Elati St. #111

Littleton, CO 80120

Sleep

Sleep has become increasingly hard for me since we lost Noah.

Once I fall asleep, I am usually okay... but falling asleep is the challenge.  My brain simply won't turn off.

My thoughts inevitably turn to Noah and that usually brings on waves of sadness that don't help matters much.  

Tonight, my sleeping issues are compounded by a nasty cold that snuck up on me yesterday.  So, now I sit in the living room at 2am, battling an alternating runny then stuffed nose as well as the aching of my heart. 

Missing Noah in pictures...part 6

Not one of Noah's happier moments...but he was still cute even as he cried.  This picture was taken after a 4 hour drive from St. Louis to Louisville to watch an UMSL match.  I'm pretty sure he was thinking, "Mom, this was not such a great idea."

 

Love to CYC

In the aftermath of losing Noah, I have become an organizational mess.  I suppose this isn't too surprising, but I am frustrated with it nonetheless.  We have received countless cards and donations, both to the Rise School in Noah's name and to us personally. I have started and lost many lists trying to keep track of our generous friends and family... I am still hoping to compile a list and send personal thanks to as many people as I can, but am worried about missing someone.  

There are several groups of people who we love dearly and I want to recognize them on the blog in case my efforts fail at reaching them individually.

One of the hardest parts about leaving St. Louis was leaving St. Louis CYC.  Josh had been coaching club volleyball for CYC long before we met and it was very important to him.  The coaches, players, and parents became like family to both of us... we celebrated our marriage surrounded by members of the club and they helped us welcome Noah into the world.  

CYC has continued to love us as we grieve over Noah's death.  The money sent to us by those affiliated with the club easily covered our hotel and food expenses while Noah was hospitalized and made a dent in the medical expenses as well.  We continue to feel loved and encouraged by our CYC family and are humbled by their care for us.

Please share our gratitude with those who may not follow the blog.