Volunteer Spotlight - Denis O’Donovan
“Photography was one skill I did have and thought, I could do this. It would be my way of giving back something to the community”
Denis has been an important part of the NILMDTS Ireland team since 2015, which means this year marks his 11th anniversary, something he’s rightly really proud of.
He first came across the organisation at a photography show in Croke Park, where a couple of the team were chatting to people and looking for volunteer photographers. At the time, he had just stepped away from his 9-5 job to go full-time into wedding photography with his wife, Lorraine. Volunteering hadn’t really been on his radar before; he didn’t feel he had a huge range of skills to offer. But photography was one thing he did have, and he realised how meaningful it could be to use his photography skills in this way.
Denis signed up, sent in some samples of his work, and was accepted straight away. After completing the training programme, Denis was ready for his first call. Like most volunteers, that first call-out was nerve-wracking, but the support from the team made a huge difference. The nurses and chaplain at the hospital were incredibly kind and helped put him at ease from the moment he arrived.
Photographers were encouraged to ring the dispatcher after each session to let them know how things had gone. Denis really appreciated those chats, it helped to talk things through with someone who understood, and it gave him a chance to share feedback with the dispatcher who had taken the original call.
People often say to Denis that they couldn’t do what he does, and he completely understands that. But for him, being able to give families beautiful photographs of their precious babies, something they can hold onto forever, means everything. He remembers chatting with a friend of one couple in a maternity hospital while waiting to begin a session. The friend told him about a neighbour who had lost a baby 28 years earlier. Back then, remembrance photography wasn’t really a thing, but the family arranged for a professional photographer to come to the hospital. To this day, those photos still hang proudly in their hallway alongside pictures of their other children - a reminder that this child will always be part of their family.
That's what makes our gift of photography so special. It's the cherished memories of a child that is still a part of the family.
He’s incredibly proud to be part of NILMDTS, especially the amazing team he works with, and he looks forward to continuing to help families for many years to come. We, and the families we support, are so grateful to Denis for sharing his time, his skills and his compassion.
