Document text
3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Mail Tribune 100, Nov. 15, 1915 ... Ashland has hand in peace gesture in Paris ... Ashland Haggen store set to return as a Safeway ... Mail Tribune 100, Nov. 15, 1915 ... Ashland has hand in peace gesture in Paris ... Ashland Haggen store set to return as a Safeway ... GRANTS PASS Portraits of love Photos first step in healing process for grieving parents By Tammy Asnicar for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tammy Asnicar for the Mail Tribune Posted Nov. 15, 2015 @ 12:01 am By Tammy Asnicar for the Mail Tribune Posted Nov. 15, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Jaymee Zilembo fingers a tiny locket around her neck. Someday, she said, it will hold a photograph of her infant daughter, JayLee Rae. The locket may preserve a tiny piece of her heart, too. JayLee was delivered by caesarean Sept. 16, just hours after Jaymee and her husband, Nick, received the devastating news that their daughter had died in the womb. The tragedy capped a whirlwind year for the young couple who were married three years earlier. Jaymee had stepped down after eight years in youth ministry at Parkway Christian Center in Grants Pass. The couple bought their first house and made plans to start a family. They became pregnant right away, and the pregnancy was “perfect,” Jaymee said. “Everything was new, exciting and falling into place,” she said. At the 38-week appointment, the baby’s heartbeat was strong and everything was going according to plan. Twenty-four hours later, Jaymee sensed something was wrong. JayLee had not moved in a day. A trip back to the doctor’s office and a new ultrasound revealed the worst. JayLee was tethered to her mother’s placenta, the umbilical cord wrapped around her tiny neck two times. “We were numb,” Jaymee said. “We were trying to grasp it all. What had been excited nervousness changed to devastating nervousness.” “We cried. We prayed." As the Zilembos struggled to come to grips with their loss, the Three Rivers Community Hospital staff told them about Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep — a free service that provides grieving parents professional digital images of their infant. The Colorado-based photo service mobilizes professional photographers who volunteer their time and talent. Images are retouched and converted to black and white or sepia tones to create quality portraits. The program says it has 1,700 volunteer photographers worldwide, providing their services in every state and 40 countries. Julie Chase, a Grants Pass area photographer, is one of three in the Rogue Valley who are called by hospital staff and invited by parents to capture the intimate moments before or just after the baby’s death. She has been called to both Three Rivers Community Hospital in Grants Pass and Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford. She shot the photographs of JayLee for the Zilembos. Although their daughter “came and left immediately,” the Zilembos said they have beautiful black-and-white portraits that gave them comfort when they were consumed by the loss. “At first (the idea) was weird,” Nick recalled. “But, we would have regretted it if we hadn’t followed through. Memories tend to fade.” The photos “keep her memory alive,” Jaymee added. “JayLee is part of our story. We have the photos to show our future kids.” She adds that the photographs were on display at JayLee’s memorial service. “The response was incredible,” she said. “Our hearts swelled with joy. We were able to share our beautiful little girl.” Chase said her first year with the program has been “enlightening.” “I took a healthy pregnancy-to-birth experience for granted before my involvement with NILMDTS,” she said. “I am surprised at how many babies we have actually been called for. I had no idea there were so many losses.” The service was founded in 2005 by Cheryl Haggard and photographer Sandy Puc’ after the death of Haggard’s infant son, Maddux, six days after his birth in Denver. Maddux was born with a condition that prevented him from breathing, swallowing or moving on his own. His parents had to make the excruciating, heart-breaking decision to take him off life support. Before they did, they called a photographer to take black-and-white portraits of them cradling their son. Puc’ photographed the couple with Maddux at the hospital before he was removed from life support and after — when he was free from the tubes and the wires that had sustained him. “That night was the worst night of my life. But when I look at the images, I am not reminded of my worst night. I’m reminded of the beauty and blessings he brought," Haggard shares on the organization's website, www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org . The experience inspired the birth of Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, a nonprofit that has provided thousands of families with portraits. The “beauty and the blessing” is what motivates Sandra Mortinson, a Rogue River photographer. Mortinson has special compassion for the parents because she has suffered the same kind of loss. Several years ago, she gave birth to twins who both died within a few hours of one another when they were just a day old. She recalls a kind nurse shooting Polaroid snapshots of the babies. “The photos are so precious,” she said. “I would run into a burning building to save them.” She said, “it’s an incredible gift” and “a blessing” to provide parents with photos. And, the photos are a testimony that “someone loved this baby.” Chase and Mortinson both agree that the photo shoots are not for everyone. But they hope more photographers will step forward. “Some might think it’s morbid,” Mortinson said. “But the photos are all the parents have when they have no baby to bring home.” “I feel so proud to give the grieving parents something that few others can,” said Chase. Reach Grants Pass freelance writer Tammy Asnicar at [email protected]. By Tammy Asnicar for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tammy Asnicar for the Mail Tribune Posted Nov. 15, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501