Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep has found a unique way to help families suffering the loss of their newborn babies.

Wenda Boyer, area coordinator for the group, and photographers Valerie Creitz and Edwin Davis recently spoke with The Press about the organization and taking photographs for families whose newborn has died.

The nonprofit organization began when Maddux Achilles Haggard was born Feb. 4, 2005, with a condition called myotubular myopathy.

His parents Mike and Cheryl Haggard had to make the excruciating decision to take him off life support.

Before they did, they called photographer Sandy Puc’ to take black and white portraits of them cradling their son, the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep website states.

The group trains professional photographers to provide heirloom portraits to families facing the untimely death of an infant.

Boyer said she heard about Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep when she was operating a program called “No One Dies Alone at Lehigh Valley Hospital.”

“I heard about the program from a gentleman with Professional Photographers of America,” Boyer said.

She was with the organization for awhile before she photographed an infant.

“My first session was life changing and, from that point forward, I was completely involved,” she said.

Boyer said she got involved to provide a family a way to say their child mattered and to help them heal.

Boyer said when she goes in to photograph an infant she reminds herself she is providing a gift for the family.

Creitz said she heard about the organization from the hospital after her twin boys were born, and before they passed away 18 days apart.

Davis photographed them when they passed away, she said.

Creitz, who became a photographer eight years ago by accident, has helped one family since joining the organization in October.

She said she got involved as a way to heal and give back.

Davis said he heard about Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep when he was in photography school several years ago and one of the students was talking about it.

“The first one I photographed I did by myself, it was very hard,” Davis said.

Davis, who has been a photographer for over 30 years, also comments on why he got involved with the organization.

“As a parent, there is no way I can imagine losing a child and if I can give a parent some joy from what I do, it makes it worth it,” Davis said.

Davis who has been with the organization for three years said he has helped 47 families.

Boyer said usually families learn about Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep through their obstetrician and staff, hospital staff, friends and families.

“Most people don’t even think about having photographs taken,” she said.

“We do whatever the families want. We are at their beckon call,” Boyer said.

“We don’t turn anyone away.”

Boyer said sometimes people request their services then change their minds.

“This is a wonderful service that we provide families,” Boyer stated.

She said they provide services at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown and Pottsville, St. Lukes’s Hospital in Allentown, Bethlehem and Quakertown, and Reading Hospital Medical Center in Reading.

To learn more about Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep or to become a photographer for the organization, visit nowilaymedowntosleep.org.