Email From Heather Lombardo-Minneapolis Photographer

[Cheryl Haggard]

I wanted to share a beautiful email with you. Please know that I am still debating whether or not I should share this, I am trying not to consider this a pat on the back, but her email moved me to tears. So, here goes...
Thanks for reading.


Cheryl,
Merry Christmas!
Each year as I receive cards I tape them on a large, long vertical cabinet to display so everyone/ we can see them daily and prominently. I love this time of year. In the middle of our display is the card you sent, I taped it so Maddux's photo was showing, (not that the other side was not equally gorgeous!) But I had to choose 1 side, so it was his. Surrounding Maddux's photo are several other cards with photos of babies I have worked these last two years OR their younger brothers and sisters. Because of Maddux and YOUR persistence, those families have beautiful photos of their angels which they otherwise would not have. Their babies left this world with dignity, respect and honor, they were here and they were loved and the family has photos to prove it.

When I looked at the photos, it was a little overwhelming to see what this one little baby boy has accomplished in his brief life. You and Maddux have touched the lives of families literally thousands of miles away. How many adults can say the same. And this is coming from just one photographer making an observation, there are so many more, I'd be interested to know just how many families have been reached because of you and your son.
I'm so proud of you and of the gift you have given others through your son.
Just thought I'd share.......
Merry Christmas Cheryl!!

Heather
Heather Lombardo
MN NILMDTS Twin City Coordinator
www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org (http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/)
www.mariabella.com (http://www.mariabella.com/)
651-329-5363




Yours in the center
immediate right is Brooke VanSomerens card, daughter Emma passed in 2006,
Brooke is holding new son Caden.
immediate left: Pauly's card with brand new daughter Rylynn, daughter Ella
passed in spring of 2006.
Directly below your card: These are Beckett's new little brothers.
Beckett passed on Nov 16th 2006.
To the left of that card: A photo of Paige, her twin sister Faith passed a
few days after birth this July. She also has another
Angel sister Peyton, who died 2 years ago, she lived for
I believe 29 days.
Below her card: Is the Becker family, mom & dad to Jack, Olivia & Grace,
the triplets that passed away over the month of July in 2006.
This one still tugs at my heart daily. BUT, on a happy note,
I get to take her maternity photos this week, she's
36weeks pregnant with a little boy.
To the right of Beckett's twin brothers: is a little angel Alexis, I
photographed her on Thanksgiving night. She lived for less
than an hour after delivery.
2 above that card: My twin niece & nephew and newest nephew's card,
all three are the reason I joined and stay very active
in NILMDTS.
Above that card: The little sister to the very first baby I photographed in
Nov 2005, Joshua.
To the right of that card: The nurse who was with me when I photographed
Joshua and who really was the vital key in implementing and
promoting NILMDTS here in one of the busiest hospitals in the
twin cities.
To the left of my niece & nephews card: is another nurse from the same
hospital.

[Karla]

Cheryl,

You should be most proud to share this with us, it certainly was because of you that many parents are blessed with treasured photos of their little angels that they would not have otherwise had...........and that is truly a wonderful thing. It is difficult to sometimes remember our little ones as time goes by, trying to close my eyes and see her face, her little fingers and toes sometimes proves fruitless, but being able to gaze at her beautiful face everyday is so soulful for me. And this site, when those around us seem so uninterested in what means so much to us, it allows us to pay glowing tributes to our babies without being told< "you have to move on" or anyone of the many other things that they seem to think we need to be told!

All the best to you and your family for the holidays..........and thanks to your little angel Maddux.

karla

[Brooke]

Cheryl,

Thanks for sharing Heather's e-mail. She is a wonderful person as I personally know because she took our daughter Emma's pictures for us in October 2006. She has become a very very great friend of ours and will always hold a special place in my family and heart for her great work that she provided to us when she did our NILMDTS photos. Thanks to you and Maddux too for starting this wonderful organization. Happy Holidays and wishing you the best in 2008.

Love,

Brooke- Mommy to Carter-5, Ethan-2 1/2, Caden-3 months, & our