Contribute to Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Foundation in memory of Kellen

In memory of

Kellen Lee Sieben

Prior Lake, MN

July 11, 2021 - July 16, 2021

Jul 11, 2021 - Jul 16, 2021

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Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep is the organization that provided our family with the professional photos we received with Kellen. Contribute to Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Foundation

About Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Foundation

NILMDTS offers the gift of healing, hope and honor to parents experiencing the death of a baby through the overwhelming power of remembrance portraits. Professional-level photographers volunteer their time to conduct an intimate portrait session, capturing the only moments parents spend with their babies. Parents are gifted with delicately retouched heirloom black and white portraits free of charge.

These priceless images serve as an important step in the healing recovery for bereaved families. NILMDTS remembrance photography validates the existence and presence of these precious babies by honoring their legacy.

NILMDTS recruits, trains, and mobilizes professional quality photographers around the world. Through NILMDTS, medical personnel are given a meaningful option to offer bereaved parents by creating remembrance portraiture for their babies.

Through further engagement in the organization, such as the NILMDTS Remembrance Walk and online support, families become a part of a compassionate and supportive community. Parents gain a sense of inclusiveness, alleviating the alienation and perception of being alone in their pregnancy or infant loss journey.

Frequently asked questions

Answered by a team member at Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Foundation

What is your mission?

To introduce remembrance photography to parents suffering the loss of a baby with a free gift of professional portraiture.
How are donations used?

NILMDTS will continue to connect with bereaved families through our various services and provide the gift of healing, hope, and honor.
What can be done with a $100 donation?

$10 covers one volunteer application.
$35 covers onboarding of one volunteer.
$50 covers one Medical Affiliate.
$125 covers one complimentary photography session.
What is the history of your organization?

Maddux Achilles Haggard was born on February 4, 2005, with a condition called myotubular myopathy, which prevented him from breathing, swallowing, or moving on his own. The following six days, his parents Mike and Cheryl Haggard sat by his side with questions that had no answers.

Cheryl tried to create memories of their time together using her own camera. In reviewing the pictures she captured, Cheryl said, “I saw our tear stained cheeks, our red swollen eyes, our forced smiles, and the fear in our faces as we looked into the camera.”

On the sixth day of Maddux’s young life, his parents made the excruciating decision to remove him from life support. Before they removed life support, Cheryl knew she wanted professional images of Maddux that she could hang on her wall alongside the portraits of her other children.

“Maddux deserved that space on our wall. I could not comfortably hang the pictures I had taken. The color images bring back the reality of that day. I wanted heirloom portraits as a way to remember and honor our son,” said Cheryl.

It was then, Mike called photographer Sandy Puc’ to take black and white portraits of them cradling their son.

Those tender photographs documenting Maddux’s eternal connection with his parents inspired Cheryl Haggard and Sandy Puc’ to create Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep in 2005 as a nonprofit organization. NILMDTS exists to give bereaved families the gift of professional heirloom portraits to bring healing and comfort.