NICU Baby Photo Journal
Donation protected
Catching Meteorites: A Photo Journal for the NICU Parent
This NICU photo journal was created to benefit NICU parents who will be journeying for an extensive time in the NICU with their child. We specifically chose a binder so that whatever the outcome, parents will have the freedom to customize their journals to represent their child’s story. Each journal and photo prompt has been crafted with care to help parents navigate not only through the NICU, but also their own feelings. We created this book to help families capture the fleeting moments they will inevitably experience in the NICU.
Your support is needed to help get these books into the hands of families in need. Funds will help pay for production and fulfillment of pilot copies to be delivered to hospitals with NICU facilities, an online storefront and marketing to spread the word.
We hope that with your support we can find a peaceful closure to this chapter in our lives, and that Isaac's story gives life and hope to the families out there we are hoping to reach with this book.
Our Story:
When our son Isaac was born, he came three months before his due date. This meant that he was immediately rushed to the NICU for intensive care. Suddenly we were parents, but the extent of our parenthood felt like we were hospital visitors, and it was a total whirlwind for us and our family. It was difficult to capture memories and celebrate Isaac’s progress because we simply didn’t know how to orient ourselves in the foreignness of the NICU.
Isaac was with us for 16 days, and we still carry him with us every day. After he left this earth, we knew we had to do something. We had to share his story with others, and we had to give something to the NICU parents who would come after us. One thing we wish we had at this time would have been a guide to help us process our experience in the NICU, and capture memories of our son - our little meteorite.
So we set out to make a photo journal - a baby book specifically designed for the NICU. It includes photo prompts centered around the unique landmarks encountered only by NICU children and parents, and journal prompts to help parents process through their emotions and to celebrate the miracle of their child’s journey through the NICU. For almost two years we have searched to find quality materials to help make this journal feel less clinical and more personal.
Even though our story as parents began with tragedy, we are hopeful that something beautiful will come from our story and be used to give dignity to so many stories like ours. Thank you for your consideration and support!
This NICU photo journal was created to benefit NICU parents who will be journeying for an extensive time in the NICU with their child. We specifically chose a binder so that whatever the outcome, parents will have the freedom to customize their journals to represent their child’s story. Each journal and photo prompt has been crafted with care to help parents navigate not only through the NICU, but also their own feelings. We created this book to help families capture the fleeting moments they will inevitably experience in the NICU.
Your support is needed to help get these books into the hands of families in need. Funds will help pay for production and fulfillment of pilot copies to be delivered to hospitals with NICU facilities, an online storefront and marketing to spread the word.
We hope that with your support we can find a peaceful closure to this chapter in our lives, and that Isaac's story gives life and hope to the families out there we are hoping to reach with this book.
Our Story:
When our son Isaac was born, he came three months before his due date. This meant that he was immediately rushed to the NICU for intensive care. Suddenly we were parents, but the extent of our parenthood felt like we were hospital visitors, and it was a total whirlwind for us and our family. It was difficult to capture memories and celebrate Isaac’s progress because we simply didn’t know how to orient ourselves in the foreignness of the NICU.
Isaac was with us for 16 days, and we still carry him with us every day. After he left this earth, we knew we had to do something. We had to share his story with others, and we had to give something to the NICU parents who would come after us. One thing we wish we had at this time would have been a guide to help us process our experience in the NICU, and capture memories of our son - our little meteorite.
So we set out to make a photo journal - a baby book specifically designed for the NICU. It includes photo prompts centered around the unique landmarks encountered only by NICU children and parents, and journal prompts to help parents process through their emotions and to celebrate the miracle of their child’s journey through the NICU. For almost two years we have searched to find quality materials to help make this journal feel less clinical and more personal.
Even though our story as parents began with tragedy, we are hopeful that something beautiful will come from our story and be used to give dignity to so many stories like ours. Thank you for your consideration and support!
Fundraising team: Catching Meteorites (5)
Andia Schehera Kolakowski
Organizer
Raised $2,645 from 19 donations
Orlando, FL
Keith Kolakowski
Team member
Raised $280 from 5 donations
Ashante Greenlee
Team member
Raised $45 from 2 donations
Erica Frazier
Team member
Laura Naemi Richert
Team member
This team raised $3,845 from 56 other donations.
