Ann Arbor area Portrait Photographer | Edda Photography Blog » Ann Arbor, Michigan Portrait Photographer. Babies. Children. Families. Senior Pictures. Headshots.

It was only eight years ago that I stood in the University of Michigan’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), anxiously peering into an incubator at my twin babies. My daughters were born at 30 weeks—almost two months premature—at barely three pounds each. Both had brain bleeds and, at the time, there was a question as to whether they would suffer mental or physical disabilities. They were so tiny and there wasn’t much that I could do to help their struggles. Helpless and sad, I wondered if the girls would ever grow up and have full lives.

Desperate for reassurance, I searched online for stories telling me that everything would be all right, that many babies had gone through the same situation and ended up healthy and happy. Unfortunately, most were horror stories. Some of the other NICU parents had babies born with more serious conditions such as prematurity, congenital heart defects, and respiratory distress. We all suffered not knowing what our children’s outcomes would be. Most of us spent every minute in the hospital, going home only to shower and sleep a few hours. It felt like I walked the corridor to the NICU a million times, and every time I wished there was something on the blank walls to cheer me up as I passed through.

After four long weeks, my twins were finally released. Although still underweight and underdeveloped, the girls eventually reached every milestone and cruised through early childhood. I began to realize that I worried more than I needed to while they were in the NICU and wished that I could share this revelation with other parents. In 2009, I received a letter in the mail asking for donations for the new Mott Children’s Hospital. Although I did not have much money to give, I still wanted to give back to the hospital. So I offered my time and my art of photography. As a photographer, I use visual pictures as a way to document life and to help viewers hold on to memories. There’s something indescribable about looking at a photograph that magically transports people back in time and sparks instant connections and feelings. Most important, photographs can send messages in a split second, and that made this medium ideal for my goal of sharing hope and inspiration to the parents walking through the NICU.

In early 2010, I embarked upon a photography collection of children who had started life here. My vision was to tell their stories against a backdrop of the special place where they began their life, the University of Michigan (which is also my alma matter, GO BLUE!). Over the course of one year, I photographed 31 NICU graduates, ranging in age from 15 months to 31 years old, at locations around Ann Arbor and the University campus.

The whole experience was amazing. In fact, working on the project changed my life in a way I had not expected. I was blown away by incredible stories, such as the one of Malachi, who was born with a tumor in his lung; the doctors were forced to perform his surgery while he was still in his mother’s uterus. Aidan, who was born without his esophagus connected to his stomach, and Peter, who was born with Goldenhar’s Syndrome. Despite having a rough start and overcoming much difficulty, all these kids are now thriving. I learned how strong the human spirit is—of the children, of the parents spending hours sitting at their bedside, and of the amazing NICU staff, who support not only the babies but also the parents.

The 24 photographs line the hallway at the entrance of the NICU and inside the waiting room. My intention is to provide a positive environment for the parents and families who will be spending their days and nights there, sometimes for weeks and months on end. While not every situation turns out the way we want them to, hope is sometimes the only thing on our side when there seems to be nothing else to cling to. Ultimately, I want these photographs to tell the parents who will walk this corridor that even in the darkest hours, always keep holding on to hope.

Special thank you to all the amazing families who participated in the Walls of Hope project, the NICU staff: Brenda M, Lisa O, Rose R, and Linda N from the Mott interior design team. To all my family and friends who supported and inspired me during this project, I couldn’t have done it without all of you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me make this project a reality.

Here are some snapshots from the Open House on November 6th: link to the photos.