Tulsa, Ok - It doesn't make sense. To look at a brand new life, and think, it's over before it even begins.

"I'm really sorry we're here to meet you under theses circumstances," says Jennifer Ayers.

That is what she and and Kelli Marone, both professional photographers, say when they regularly volunteer for a very difficult duty.

 "I think I stopped counting at 30," she says.

Their work is simultaneously uplifting and heartbreaking.

"You try to stay as quiet as possible, you never know how a family's grieving," she says.

They are called when death is about to visit new life.

"Sometimes they're actually taking them off life support and we have to, the parents want us there, when they take them off, and we have to sit there and wait," says Ayers.

It's a part of "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep," an organization of photographers who take the last, and lasting images, of fatally ill newborns.

"And we try to take pictures of their hands and their feet and their ears and their nose," says Ayers.

"Looking at those pictures helps me to know that she's ok," says Kendall Fleak.

A year ago this week, she and her husband Micah welcomed daughter Kayla.

"She was having problems breathing and that's all we really knew," says Micah.

Flown to St. John's, she passed away three days later. Like most people, Kendall and Micah had never heard of Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep.

"Its something that doesn't ever cross your mind," says Kendall.

Jennifer and Kelli got the call for Kayla.

"Pictures like that can just show you the sweet innocence, bring back the good memories," says Kendall.

Images that provide comfort, even though taken at an unbearably difficult time.

"I want people to know that its ok to have pictures taken of your child after they've passed away, it's ok," says Kendall.

They are looking for more volunteers to join the cause.

 "If I look back on my calendar I think we average one every 3 days," says Jennifer.

Photographers wanted, to help folks like Kendall and Micah.

"It helps us tremendously, me personally, like no one could ever believe." says Kendall.

To be there in the darkest hour, capturing a light that faded too quickly from this earth.

"I just know that some day when I get to heaven i'm gonna know a bunch of little babies," says Kelli.

The service is completely free to families, and all photographers volunteers their services, as Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep is a non-profit organization. Currently, there are just 10 photographers who perform the service in the Green Country area. 

If you're a photographer, or know one who'd like to help out, contact Jennifer Ayers at sonrisephoto@gmail.com.

 

 

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