Volunteer Spotlight- Jim Sheehy
Jim Sheehy is never shy to remind us all that although he resides in beautiful Kerry, he is, and always will be, a true Dub at heart!
Jim took up photography in his 50s. His work with people with disabilities across the region left him stunned at the beauty of the scenery around him, and keen to capture it.
10 years ago Jim joined the team at NILMDTS Ireland. The idea of preserving the memories of these precious babies really appealed to Jim at a personal level, having witnessed his own parents’ grief at the loss of 3 of their children and their regret at not having photos with which to remember them and share them.
“It has been a pleasure to work with so many dedicated, committed and kind volunteers during the past ten years and I hope to continue to make my contribution to continuing our work into the future. A special thank you to all our volunteers, to the bereavement support midwives throughout the hospitals, to our fellow organisations, and to our other family in NILMDTS U.S.”
Jim’s contribution to NILMDTS Ireland cannot be overstated.
He is a dedicated photographer who will always do his absolute best to attend sessions around Munster, often travelling long distances to ensure these memories are captured. So far he has captured 49 sessions. He is also a trained digital retouch artist and managed the DRA workstream within the charity.
Jim is never afraid to roll up his sleeves and get involved. Initially he helped out with accounts thanks to his professional knowledge and qualifications in accountancy.
More recently Jim has built and developed a strong and sustainable relationship with NILMDTS US, rectifying issues with process, building and creating strong interpersonal relationships.
After COVID resulted in the virtual shut down of NILMDTS Ireland, Jim, along with other legacy members of the team, took up the reins to re-engage volunteers, reconnect with hospitals and reestablish processes.
Jim also led the charge in the important but arduous tack of gaining Irish charity status, creating a board and leading the charity into a strong future.
Thank you Jim for everything you do for our charity, and for the families we support.
“It is with a great sense of satisfaction that I can now be part of a growing organisation that is operating throughout the country, working to capture memories of love not loss for many parents experiencing the loss of a baby”
