Strangers Photoshop baby's picture for grieving dad

[William769]

A grieving father’s simple appeal to strangers has resulted in a beautiful gift: Portraits of his daughter, finally free of the machines that surrounded her during her brief life.

The Ohio dad, whose baby died last Thursday, posted a brief request on Reddit over the weekend: “My daughter recently passed away after a long battle in the children's hospital,” he wrote.

“Since she was in the hospital her whole life, we never were able to get a photo without all her tubes. Can someone remove the tubes from this photo?”
His daughter Sophia was born May 30 and lived just six weeks, he said. She died from complications from ahepatic hemangioma, a liver tumor, he wrote on Reddit.

http://www.nbc-2.com/story/26031817/strangers-photoshop-babys-picture-for-grieving-dad#.U8akVGdOU5s

With all the crap I see in the news, this made me feel good that complete strangers did this. I am very sad for his loss, but at least he has a picture of his child that he can cherish.

[msanthrope]

1. It's just refreshing to know that something good came out of the pit that is Reddit. nt

[William769]

2. "We are the silver lining in any and every dark cloud we could ever find.

There is no need to go looking for the light when you bring it with you."

-Tyler Knott Gregson-

[Hosnon]

33. "the pit that is Reddit."

It's user generated content covering almost every topic you can think of. Hell one of my favorite subreddits is all things Frozen (the movie).

What makes it a "pit" in your opinion?

[msanthrope]

38. You know, this is a great thread that I'm not gonna derail....I'll PM you. nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

50. lol. plus 100

[freshwest]

3. From the mind's eye she was always perfect. This will show what they loved. Good post.

[William769]

8. I actually got teary eyed when I read this story.

[hlthe2b]

4. Beautiful story arising from such a tragedy...

Kindness of strangers, indeed.

[William769]

7. Agreed.

[grilled onions]

5. This is much needed by grieving parents.

It's a sad that no one has ever thought of doing this before. I hope this catches on for it is balm for the grieving.

[William769]

10. ...

[Hekate]

31. There's at least one website devoted to grieving parents...

...whose babies were stillborn or died shortly after birth as this one did. In some places there are photographers who will come to the hospital to help the parents with beautifully staged photos as a remembrance.

This actually has a long history, back to the early days of photography when infant mortality was so common. There are still some around: baby dressed in a long gown, lying in the cradle, "as if asleep."

Technology changes, but the human heart still breaks.

[Nye Bevan]

6. Given all of the horrible anonymous stuff that people post on the internet,

it's heartwarming and moving to see folks doing nice things for a stranger like this.

[narnian60]

9. Wow.

I did not expect to be so affected by those pictures. Still crying.

[Arugula Latte]

48. I think it is something about seeing the baby as she "should" have been -- healthy, bright-eyed

[JNelson6563]

11. There is hope for humankind.

Stories like this serve as much needed reminders. Thank you for posting this!



Julie

[William769]

12. I feel the same way.

[deutsey]

26. I think you're right.

We're so bombarded by the "if it bleeds, it leads" news coverage, the toxic political waste spewing into our consciousness, and commercials and "reality" TV shows that exploit and promote our basest impulses, that it's easy to forget that there are a lot of good people in the world.

[William769]

34. ...

[irisblue]

13. the kindness of strangers...

making me weep over here.

[Sissyk]

14. I saw this on the morning news this a.m.

It was so sad, but happy at the same time.

However, I have to tell a personal story. A friend did this for another friend about six months ago. The parents that lost the baby, even though they acted appreciative to the friend that made it, were that much more upset. That wasn't the baby she gave birth to and had set by her bedside for 9 weeks. Their baby had always had tubes, and the picture without was just what it was....photoshopped.

I know our friend did it out of love and kindness, there is no question about that. But, that's not the end result in my friends case. So just a word of advice if I may? Don't do this if the parent/parents do not ask or seem receptive of the suggestion.

You; GENERAL. Not you, dear Bill!

[William769]

15. I agree with what you say.

People grieve in different way's.

But in this case the father did ask.

A story a little different but about grief when David's son (my step-son) was killed, the mother took pictures at the viewing (we did not know this). Two weeks later we got a letter from her with the pictures enclosed. We both literally lost it. We destroyed the pictures because we only wanted to see pictures of the good times we had together for memories. Needless to say the mother could not understand us on this issue and of course we could not understand her on this issue.

People do grieve in different ways.

[Sissyk]

19. Yes, I agree.

And yes, the father did ask and I think it is wonderful that all those nice folks did it for him out of the goodness of their hearts.

I'm sorry for your loss.

You know, up until maybe (20?) years ago, it was still tradition to take pictures of your loved one laying in the casket in the funeral home or church in some parts of the south. I never could understand that tradition. It just seemed so morbid to me. I want to remember my loved ones with smiles on their faces, with love in their eyes. So, I understand where you are coming from.

[William769]

20. I have since lost David too. Phillip 2003, David 2006.

But life goes on (I wonder why sometimes, but it does).

[Sissyk]

23. Life does indeed go on....

sometimes so that we can be a true, valuable, out-spoken protector and advocate for all our LGBT Brothers and Sisters.

That's one reason among many your life must go on, Bill. We will stand up right behind you, or by your side. Whichever you like.

[William769]

24. Thank for being such a great friend. If you get a chance, these are my tributes to both of them.

http://www.billking.net/david.html#top

http://www.billking.net/phillip.html#top

[Sissyk]

25. I will look at them both tonight

when I am at home and can give them the look they deserve. Thread is bookmarked.

And, you are very welcome!

[Sissyk]

52. Absolutely breathtakingly beautiful!

Both of them.

[deutsey]

27. Yes, it's always best to follow the lead of the grieving person n/t

[Puzzledtraveller]

16. I had my first, a baby girl April 16th, 2014.

3 months old today. I can't imagine going through that. I break up seeing anything like this and justy want to hold my little girl.

[William769]

17. May she have a long and happy life.

[Puzzledtraveller]

21. Thank You, very much.

My wife just called to say they are returning from their Mom and Daughter day at the park for her turning 3 months old. I can't wait to hold her now. The pictures broke my heart immediately, she looked so much like my daughter and I saw my daughter there. Thank you William for sharing this.

[cyberswede]

18. Aw...I've got something in my eye...

Beautiful - thanks for posting.

[William769]

28. I know, me too.

[lark]

22. Thank you so much for sharing this heartwarming tale

My heart goes grieves for the parents, but how wonderful that strangers gave him these beautiful pictures to cherish.

[William769]

32. I love to share stories like this.

Nice words.

[dbackjon]

29. I saw this on facebook this morning

While I was chopping onions (That's my story)

[William769]

30. I'll go with that.

[anneboleyn]

35. I saw this thread on reddit also! Thank you for posting this on DU so that others can see it

if they do not frequent reddit. The photoshop subreddit is fascinating (the creativity is just amazing), and the work that very talented individuals generated in this case is just wonderful. And the individual redditors did it out of their desire to help a grieving parent. The results are beautiful and such a gift for the grieving parents.

[William769]

37. My local news station carried is how I found it.

I'm glad they did.

[etherealtruth]

36. Awww damnit

I am at work ... I can't be crying like this.

Thank you for this spirit affirming post!

[sheshe2]

39. Sophia, such a beautiful girl.

The story makes me cry for the loss of her sweet self and goodness of the souls that gave Steffel and his wife a lasting picture of her.

She is so beautiful, may she rest in the arms of angels.

Thank you for posting this, William. Such a heartrending and yet heartwarming story.

Hugs~

[Warren DeMontague]

40. So sorry for his loss.

Beautiful baby.

[Duppers]

41. It was difficult for me to check this but it was done so beautifully

..and so lovingly.


I lost a full-term baby girl who never left the hospital too. Movers lost my only pics of her.

[William769]

43. ...

[WillyT]

42. HUMONGOUS K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

[Ruby the Liberal]

44. K&R and bookmarking.

Brought a tear to my eye.

[William769]

45. One of the best stories I have read in awhile.

[Ruby the Liberal]

46. The photos (and drawing) were awesome.

[William769]

47. Yes they were.

[Uncle Joe]

49. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, William.

[Boomerproud]

51. My brother's funeral home is handling the arrangments and funeral.

I first saw her picture on his website and then on CNN's page. R.I.P. Sophia.

[ReRe]

53. That one brought tears...

... to these old eyes. We have new babies in our family on all sides. I will meet my identical twin great nephews this weekend for the first time (they are nearing 9 months old.) What a sweet thing to do for that grieving father. She's was a darling, with tubes or not. Thanks for sharing, William.

[mackerel]

54. So precious...wiping a tear from eye.

[defacto7]

55. ...

wow... there are good people...