One photographer’s newborn photo is doing the rounds on the internet for its thought-provoking concept. Symbolizing the couple’s fertility struggle, the baby is surrounded by hundreds of IVF syringes.
Arizona-based couple Patricia and Kimberly O’Neill reached out to photographer Samantha Packer with the idea. Seeking photos similar to the newborn shoots they’d seen previously, the couple wanted to develop the concept into something more unique – and ended up including in the photo all 1,616 syringes they had used during their four-year long effort to conceive.
Their daughter, who they named London, was two weeks old at the time the image was taken. Positioned to create two heart shapes around her, the inner layer of syringes are those Patricia used for twice-daily blood thinning treatments. The outer layer are from her in vitro fertilization (IVF) injections. It took the couple four years to conceive, with a total of 7 attempts. Within those efforts, they also suffered 3 miscarriages.
The photo has since been circulated around the internet, acquiring over 61,000 shares on Packer's Photography page on Facebook. Speaking of its virality, photographer Packer told TIME: “I knew it was special when I took it because we were all tearing up. I didn’t, however, realize how strongly it would resonate with others.”
London was born on 3rd August of this year.
Image used with permission of Samantha Packer.
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9 Comments
First off, great job! Beautifully done!
The incredible effort and the ordeal some couples have to go through to have a child. Extraordinary.
I guess I don't understand the point. To me, it seems they've made a photo of their daughter, all about them. :-/
To me, the photograph details the couple's struggle (and pain, physically and emotionally) to have a child.
Which, in my mind, makes it about them and not the child. I liken it to someone giving to charity and then highlighting their generosity vs the results of their generosity. I believe you've written before, you have children. Do you tell others about your children's qualities and accomplishments or the emotional and physical pain (and I know there's lots of both) you've endured to help them become who they are?
Having been through it, I can almost say with some assurance that their feelings aren’t selfish. It’s hard to explain.
I didn't mean to imply selfish but more self-centered. Anyway, it doesn't really matter. I was just curious. Everyone tells me I think too much so it must be true.
What? You're implying the parents are selfish, when they spent this much time and effort trying to get pregnant and have that child in the first place. Talk about making an issue out of absolutely nothing.
You post scores of fluff articles and accuse me of making an issue out of nothing? What I said is, I don't understand the point. Photos should have a point, even if only to be attractive. What's the point here? If I knew that, I would have better insight into whether or not they're selfish but, even if they are, everyone is at times. Maybe we should wait until you grow up to have these kinds of conversations. Kids! smh
One other thing I might add that this story doesn’t touch on is the financial cost this couple had to pay. Most insurance companies don’t cover IVF. My wife who worked in this field of medicine said the cost was mostly likely over 250,000 dollars. Congrats to these new parents.