Rizzuto Aids Grieving Families through Pictures

Gianna and Kayleigh Dolan have thei r photo taken by Margaret Rizzuto. Margaret Rizzuto believes no foot is too small that it cannot leave an imprint on this world.

The professional photographer from Mahopac is volunteering her services these days with the non-profit Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (NILMDTS) organization by assisting families suffering from an early infant loss.

During a visit to Rizzuto’s home studio last weekend, the photographer explained she was one of 7,000 professionals across the U.S. who volunteer their time and services that provide families experiencing infant loss with remembrance photography. “A woman goes into the hospital to deliver, and a very unfortunate situation arises—the baby is stillborn or it dies shortly after birth,” she explained. “A photographer provides parents with a beautiful heirloom portrait of their son or daughter, which oftentimes is the only thing they have as a memory of the newborn.”

Rizzuto has taken photographs moments before an infant is taken off life support, or of the deceased baby itself. “It’s heavy stuff, but it means so much to these families. I am a mother,” she added. “Thank God my children are healthy. I am questioned all the time: ‘How can you do this?’ I respond: ‘How can you not?’”

On Saturday, Rizzuto opened her studio to parents and their healthy children by providing them with a Halloween portrait in exchange for a donation to the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep organization.

Suzanne and Mark Dolan of Mahopac stopped by with their daughters, Gianna, 2 and Kayleigh, 6 months. “We’ve been blessed not once but twice. This is the least we can do,” said Suzanne.