Making lasting memories
Story Cards are high quality, archival, acid-free scrapbook paper cards designed to last a lifetime. With each weekly photo session, volunteers are not only capturing moments, they are providing parents with visual images of their babies’ progress, growth and development. This can look like being taken off oxygen or having a feeding tube removed. The babies can wear their own clothes and be held, creating a much-needed sense of normalcy. The photo experience becomes a celebration that the care team, FMT volunteers and parents look forward to as a reflection of each baby’s journey. And FMT just surpassed 25,000 photos taken!
Helping families in more ways than one
Today, First Memories operates with nine volunteers and is present in West Tower, PFW, the Heart Center, The Woodlands and Austin. In the last year, FMT volunteers contributed a total of 4,378 hours, using their efforts both onsite and offsite to photograph the infants and make handmade Story Cards.
While volunteers cherish taking photos of the babies, the ultimate reward is serving the families who trust First Memories to document the beauty and hope in their circumstances. FMT compiles the photos and Story Cards in a workspace located in the Family Respite Room on the floor 4 of West Tower. Here, families can connect, share their weekly experiences and introduce extended family members who are visiting. As one mom describes it: “These photos are all we have at times when we think of our babies. There are good people doing good work in the quiet spaces of the world. They do it faithfully without needing anything in return. All we can do is say, ‘Thank you.’”
More recently, First Memories has expanded its support to include bereavement services. Since FMT restarted in the Heart Center in June 2024, the organization has been able to support the staff by providing photography and 20-page scrapbooks with digital recordings to five families so far. Although these are the most challenging and tragic outcomes for families, volunteers consider being at the bedside to document a family’s experience to be a true honor. Bereavement photography requires more time and resources, but FMT’s presence during these tender moments brings lifelong comfort to families.
The incredible work done by these volunteers is so much more than photography and scrapbooking. It is helping families cope and find whatever joy they can during in an unconventional situation. We thank them for their dedication and for adding a little more beauty to Texas Children’s.
If you have a patient family interested in scheduling services with First Memories, click here and use the flyer for your corresponding area.