ittle Heroes Post

Maribella
8/16/2025 • Born Sleeping • 7 lbs 4 oz • 17″ • 7:48 pm

When I arrived that evening, I was met with something I’ll never forget—the strongest family support I have ever seen. Nearly 20 loved ones filled the room: siblings, grandparents, cousins. Everyone was so grateful I could be there.

Mom had just endured an emergency c-section and, while exhausted, began hemorrhaging and was quickly rushed back into surgery. Her deepest wish was to have photos of her baby girl. So I carefully wrapped Maribella, placed a bow on her head, and photographed her with Dad, her siblings, and Grandpa. But when we finished, Mom was still in surgery. I couldn’t bear the thought of her missing the chance to be photographed with her daughter, so I offered to return the next morning.

When I walked in the following day, Maribella was in a cuddle cot—a special cooling bassinet that allows parents precious extra time with their baby. She looked so peaceful and perfect. I gently lifted her and placed her in her mother’s arms. For the first time, Mom was fully present, holding her sweet angel. She hadn’t remembered the night before.

We captured her wrapped in a blanket, her tiny feet and hands, and that powerful moment when Mom uncovered the blanket and saw her baby’s feet for the first time. Heartbreaking and beautiful, it’s a memory she’ll carry forever—the smells, the light in the room, the way it felt. Finally, she laid Maribella on her chest and simply cuddled her. It was one of the most tender, sacred moments I have ever witnessed.

The love surrounding this family, both that night and the next morning, is something I will never forget. 💜