A newborn photoshoot with premature baby Scarlett
Being a parent is hard. Being a special needs parent is extra hard. Raising children with extra needs is exhausting, scary and intense. The highs are higher, but the lows are lower. And finding friends who understand that you can be thankful for what you have and still fear the future is just plain hard.
Whether medical, emotional, sensory, or genetic, premature babies have so many extra needs. This little angel was born 11 weeks premature, weighing just 2lbs 6oz and spent her first seven weeks in hospital, the next paragraph is written by Scarlett's mother and I feel really does demonstrate what families of premature babies have to go through before finally being able to take their tiny miracles home:
"After 1 week in intensive care, 5.5 weeks in special care, 2 ambulance trips, 5 blue light treatments, 1IV drip and a nasogastric tube, 1 MRI scan, 6 brain ultrasounds, countless blood tests, eye and ear exams and 46 nights spent away from mummy and daddy, yesterday was a magical day indeed. Our baby girl came home! We are truly blessed with the most special little girl who has amazed us with her strength. She was clearly determined to spend Christmas with her family. We now get to enjoy our little 3ib 13oz princess and surprise her big brother later today!"
For me having the opportunity to photograph such a special little girl was amazing, being able to finally capture her tiny little features and feisty personality on camera for her family to cherish was such a gift!