I would like to thank CBC for this documentary! As parents who experienced the death of our young son Aiden at Sick Kids it was both heart-wrenching to watch but it was also nice to know that many others were watching. Our son was born at 30 weeks and transfered to Sick Kids when he was 3 days old. The care that Aiden received there as well as the comfort we as parents received was amazing! The documentary showed Lori a number of times & really showed how wonderful she is at her job. She was there with us every step of the way!
When Aiden was 8 days old we were sat down for a meeting (little did we know that this meeting would be so difficult) We were told that Aiden had a large opening in his heart, which is quite normal for a baby born prematurely & can usually be fixed with surgery (scary to hear as a parent). Then we were told that Aiden had had a heart attack at some point after his delivery delivery. Panic & an overwhelming feeling of helplessness followed. We were advised to have an MRI so the next day Aiden had an MRI. We were terrified! Our next meeting with his team of doctors & nurses followed & that is when we were told that he had extensive brain damage & his blood was not pumping to his main & vital organs. He would not live for much longer, even with all of the tubes & medication he had. So then came the decision NO PARENT SHOULD EVER HAVE TO MAKE! Should we watch him die in pain & discomfort? Or at peace in his parents arms? After questioning the doctors over & over again if they could possibly be wrong (almost begging them to be wrong) we decided that he should leave this world in the comfort of his Mommy & Daddy's arms. Our son lived for 3 hours after they removed his tubes. He looked so perfect & comfy. He went to Heaven on Good Friday 2008. Aiden would have been 9 months old today & I think of him ALL the time. The pain dosen't go away, we're supposed to learn how to live a new 'normal', but it is not easy.
Thank You to the families that had the courage to share the story of your precious children with us. We truly appreciate it.

I applaud th CBC for addressing and handling this very sensitive and uncomfortable topic. The documentary was well portrayed.

Sheona and crew you did an amazing job! To all the other familes - I know the pain and sorrow as well as the joy you have inside for your little ones that passed to soon! To all the other Mommies and Daddies out there feeling the same loss. You are not alone, and niether are our babies, they have each other. Thank-you for the chance to share Hailey's story.

What a beautiful documentary. Well done! I held my little boy a little closer and a little tighter last night.

I would have loved to have seen this, but I unfortunately found out about it on a CBC podcast, which was released today, and therefore was not helpful. I'm hoping it re-airs soon.

My son Joshua was born December 11th 2002 and he was in the NICU at Sick Kid's. He was born with water on his brain, a cleft plate, only the right kidney, and he had a shunt put in so that the water can drain. The doctors gave him a couple of months to a year to be with us. So I remember saying that I just wanted to bring him home to be with his 2 older sisters and just to be a family. I can still remember when Lori Baines walked into the NICU room with her spiked up red hair and yes, even the glitter in it too. She knew just what to say to help me cheer up. I remember one day Lori called me and said that Joshua's heart has stopped and that she would call me back to let me know what to do. Those little hours that I waited for her to call me back made my whole world stop. But when she did call me back she said to do what I have to do right now than get over to the hospital. When I got to the hospital and went into the room that Joshua was in I remembered his colour was grey and when the nurse put him in my arms he felt just like a rag doll. We went into the Care By Parent room and we got him dedacated and the nurse gave him a bath and we watched the Toronto Maple Leafs on televison and Joshua perked up for that. So we brought him home and he was with us for his 1st birthday. But on May 14th 2004 he passed away and I remembered when I called Lori to let her know it was good to hear her voice and it also helped me out. If it wasn't for Lori I wouldn't been able to walk into the funeral home to have the papers waiting for that day, but Lori came over a very long time before before Joshua passed away and helped me go over to the funeral home. And now we have Lori in our family as our Aunt Lori. I even got her an award one time and I had to say my whole speech that I wrote and got her that award, and the Toronto Sun even was there and got her picture and wrote down some things that I said about our Aunt Lori.

Sheona McDonald did an amazing job with this documentary. I thank her for making it. I also thank the families who shared their stories, especially at such a personal time in their lives.
I was one of these parents in 1999. My son, Quinlahn, had severe brain damage due to complications during labour & delivery. He didn't have suck, swallow or gag reflexes. He never cried. The doctors said they didn't know what his development would be or how long he would live. I had to make some heartbreaking decisions that no parent should have to make.
He was born April 28, 1999 and died in my arms July 5, 1999.
This is a subject that is rarely discussed. It is too sad for most to think about. For those of us that have lived it though, this documentary validates and acknowledges what we have been through.

I applaud the Director, Producer, CBC, and most importantly the amazing families featured in this profound documentary. It broke my heart, and reaffirmed life, and the strength of all of these amazing families. My infant daughter died of hypoplastic left heart syndrome 28 years ago next week. We celebrated being parents to her for 11 days. As I watched this moving documentary, and the interviews with the families, I shared their pain, and prayed for their strength in dealing with what the future holds for them. My husband and I were blessed to have our daughter for however short a time, it made us closer, made us cherish our future children even more. We have been blessed to have 3 amazing sons since then, and now an equally amazing grandson. My daughter is our little angel, who will always be part of our family, just as the little angels shown in this film will always be part of their families.
Thank you for capturing the poignent, heart-breaking world of those who's tiny angels must return to Heaven with heart and dignity.

Thanks to CBC for broadcasting such documentary. Even though many parents are forced to make tough decisions before or after the birth of their children but it's a topic that is not openly discussed. We were one of those parents who had to make a tough choice for our little boy before he was born. This document did a great job illustrating the magnitude of grief experienced by parents like us.

I want to thank Sheona and her crew, and the CBC ,for putting together such a beautiful and respectful documentary. My son, Liam , passed away this past August, just after birth. As this subject is rarely, if ever, discussed in any parenting book, or prenatal class, it led me to believe that I had somehow done something wrong, or that something so terrible happened it must never be discussed. My son is real, he was here, he is loved by so many. This documentary, while heartbreaking to watch, resonated so much with me. Hearing these parents talk about their children, and the difficult decisions that had to be made, was hard to watch only because it took me back to a place I was 4 short months ago. It made me realize that, although my son is not with me physically, I am still a parent- I love, and grieve my son everyday.But the love is starting to win over the grief most days now.
Thank you to the nurses @ Ridge Meadows Hospital who has the presence of mind to take so many pictures of Liam, and for being so gentle with my husband and I. Your kindness will never be forgotten.

A sad, but beautiful documentary. My husband and I were flipping through the channels last night when we came upon this documentary. I immediately was glued because we too had gone through a very similar experience nearly three years ago.
There still is not a day that goes by when I do not think about our baby daughter Sarina Rose. She was born on January 19th, 2006 and we knew we would not have her for long.
In my 25th week of pregnancy I was told that my baby had Hypo Plastic Left Heart syndrome as well as Turner's syndrome. We were faced with a very difficult decision, one that I never would have imaged I would ever have to make. We choose to give her life and let her live her short time surrounded by love, peace and comfort. She was with us for 3 days and passed away in our arms in the early morning of her 4th day.
The day she died, a little piece of me died too. I will never be the same again, but I have learned to move on. Sharing my experience with other helps validate her life and helps me remember her. The passing of time does help in the healing,
As I am typing this I feel immense sadness, but I choose to share because I know there are people out there who are going through this who need to know that they are not alone. No one truly understands unless they have gone through it themselves.
Thank you CBC for airing this heartbreaking topic and thanks Sheona and crew for doing such an amazing job. You really were able to capture the feelings and thoughts of what these families had to go through. It will help many families out there.

What amazing families, and what sensitive filming. Emotional as it was I could not stop watching these beautiful babies who were with their families for such short times. Having lost a young adult son 11 years ago I understand the grief of losing a child, but I also recognize the difference when as parents you only have such a short time to be with your baby. Such unbelievable decision making you have to face. Thank you for sharing your stories so openly and honestly. I work with young families with babies and children who have special needs and this window into the experiences of families is invaluable. Hopefully it makes us all more sensitive and understanding with people we know who have experienced these terrible losses in their lives.

I applaud the director and CBC for airing such a beautiful documentary. My heart goes out to those families, as well as other families who have lost a child. Amazing film, and I don't think my eyes were dry for one minute!
I as well, held my little girl a little tighter lastnight.

Thank you again, such a wonderful film.

Thank you for bringing this issue to the public.. where it is sooo taboo.

We lost our son Noah, (APril 6-8, 2008). He was born full term and transfered to SickKids 2 days later .. where he passed away after a emergency surgery. It was hard, but wonderful at the same time to see the same chair, and room that we were in when Noah was in his last hours. It is comforting, yet at the same time, sad to know that we aren't alone, that others have been though a similar experience.. and too, know what it is like to be without their child.. to lose a piece of their future, a major piece.

Thank you for airing this CBC, and creating it Sheona and crew- awesome job, wonderful film.

It was terribly sad to watch this documentary, but I was comforted to have this story told. I lost my beautiful daughter, my only child, Maeve Lily, on July 17th of this year when she was born still. It is very important to me to talk about my daughter, and to have her life acknowledged, even if it makes people uncomfortable. it is important to me that people understand that we do not get over this. the fact that we did not have more time to get to know our children does not make our grief any easier. we are not mourning the memories past so much as we mourn the memories we will not have, such as first steps, first words, first smiles and giggles etc.

I was in so much shock after the birth of my daughter, that I did not think that I would want any pictures, but the social worker assigned to us had pictures taken anyway. I can not express how important those pictures are to me today, and to think of not having them saddens me in a way too terrible to bear. The pictures of Maeve are all that I have to remember her beautiful face. Without them, I fear I would forget and it terrifies me that I could forget. It's important to me that people understand that pictures such as these are not morbid. they are all that parents like us have to honor the memory of our precious babies.

after watching the documentary, my husband and i looked at Maeve's pictures together for the first time since she was born. Until he saw the documentary, he found it too difficult to look at the pictures. now, we have a way to remember together, and to study her face, and remember that she had his nose and my lips. i thank everyone involved in the making and airing of this documentary.

There are so many things, positive things that came from myself and my husband being a part of such a capitivating documentry/experience.

These are with out a doubt the DARKEST hours a parent could fathom, let alone endure. This experience allowed us to give Emerson a voice, and a legacy THAT makes us feel he really did have a purpose in his short stay in this world. We don't know why we have to go through the things we do in this life, but sometimes the answers come to us later on.

I really feel that this topic is not one that is happy, but not unrealistic to what so many of us have to go through. Why should we do that alone, in silence-?When for all we know our neighbours are having the same pain, for the same reason? THIS NEEDS to be TALKED about. It happens, and just because we suffer polietly in silence, doesn't make it go away.

I am SO SO apprecitive of Sheona McDonald, without the experience of this documentry, the pictures provided to us from NILMDTS ( Heather Rivilin) I have no idea where I would be in my life right now. I am standing, it hasn't killed me, and I am a stronger person.

We are not alone, AND NEITHER ARE OUR ANGELS.

Thanks CBC and to Seona and the cast who made this possible. I am glad this was aired I am glad to see that I am not alone and there are many out there who are going through a loss of a pregnancy or a still birth or a shortly lived life. My son was 6 days old when he passed away he was born prematurly at 27weeks old a twin pregnancy it is a long story and would love to share with anyone who would love to hear. I know there is a baby story and bringing home baby but what about having shows about this documentary bring this type of thing to t.v to the life channel. I think it would be a big hit for peopler to watch it helps people greive and to know they are not alone. Thanks for showing your angels to me.

I wish to thank Sheona for having the vision to put something like this together, and bring it to fruition - it was a long couple of years with you, and I wouldn't change a moment of it :)

To all the families that I have worked with through "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep", both for the film, and otherwise, thank you for allowing me to be present during such an emotionally intense, intimate, and personal time. Being able to capture for you the lasting memories of your child is more than a gift in return for me, it is an honor, and I am so glad that you have all chosen to honor the memories of your little angels in this way - I am glad that I could be a part of it with you.

Thank you to CBC for their willingness to showcase such a topic, and giving voice to all the parents and families for whom this topic is a reality. I understand that the material is sad, and the stories are painful, but they are real, and they need to be talked about so that others can learn how to address and speak with these families - how to help these families through their loss.

Karey said it best in the film when she said that this loss isn't something you ever "get over", it is just something that you learn to live with. The magnitude of this loss is something that I cannot fathom, even seeing it regularly in the many situations that I photograph. As a mother of three healthy boys, I know that am forever blessed, and hug them a little tighter each time I do a session for families experiencing a loss. It is a reminder to me of my fortune, and so I contribute in any way that I can, to help ease this pain for others.

I met so many wonderful people in the making of this film - it truly was a wonderful experience. Thank you all for making it so.

Thank you to Sheona McDonald for making this film, to CBC Newsworld for showing it, and for the families for letting us glimpse into their lives at the most painful moment. My only child, a daughter named Katie, was stillborn in 1998, and my husband & I volunteer with Perinatal Bereavement Services Ontario, which helped us so much after our loss. Many of the families who come to our groups are referred via Sick Kids Hospital. We always hear rave reviews about the care their babies received there, and this film shows why. Painful as the subject matter is, pregnancy and infant loss is far more common than most people realize. There is a desperate need for more openess, and more support for bereaved parents. Thank you again!

My husband and I would like to thank CBC from the bottom of our hearts for airing such a beautiful and important documentary. The isolation that we parents feel after losing a baby, all the more complicated by the medical decisions we are thrown into making, is at times as painful as the grief itself. Stories similar to the ones told in this film occur so much more often than it’s assumed. It is so rare for me to tell my story to someone, anyone, without them replying with “a similar thing happened to me, or my sister, or my best friend…”, but it does not seem to be socially acceptable to talk about our babies, and how much we love them and miss them. It just doesn’t make sense. So once again – thank you CBC for dedicating an hour of your airtime to a subject that’s a part of so many Canadian lives, one way or another. It is my hope that you would consider airing it in the future as well, so that it can bring a little bit of comfort to other families going through this, and maybe a little more understanding to those who are lucky enough to never have to go through something like this.

Thank you CBC, Sheona and crew for such a wonderful caring show. I'm a bit stronger since I watched the show. My husband and I spent 6 years trying to have a baby, then found out we were having twins. Martin was born Jan 29/04 at 24 weeks and sadly passed away in my arms 10 short hours later. Emily was born Feb 3/04 and thankfully she is still with us. People kept telling me that I was so lucky to have one child and that would help me through my sadness. I felt like they were saying that his life wasn't that important since we had Emily. His life was very important and in my heart he gave his life so she would survive. I have pictures of Martin, that the IWK Hospital in Halifax, NS took for us. I'm so grateful to have them as I can now show his sister that he was real and that his life was important. Thank you again for putting this story on air, it makes us realize we are not alone and that we can talk about his life. God bless every family that has gone through the same thing we all know that times does not heal the broken heart.

This was a wonderful documentry. It brought a sensitive subject into the public eye. We (parents who've lose an infant) are no longer invisible and sadly people need to know that this happens more often than should. This documenty brought me back to the moment I lost my son, I cried, yet was happy that people are aware that this is an important issue. Losing an infant is difficult and is a felling that never fully goes away (which it shouldnt). Because of that experience i appreciate every "little one" in my life, whether their mine or someone else's. Thank you for those who created the documentry and for those families who participated, you are very brave to allow us into your home and personal life. I believe that this will be a big help to those coping with a loss. Thank you again.

Thank you CBC for airing this very important documentary. We all know the pain and suffering families go through with the illnesses in our wee babies. It was a real wake up call for everyone to understand how fortunate and precious all lives are even in their short time on this earth. I hope CBC will run it again at a earlier time in the evening for all families to see and be made aware of what goes on everyday at NICU Sick Children's Hospital. Great job every one and to Sheona McDonald for making this film, to CBC Newsworld for showing it. To Lori Baine for sharing her heart and soul to the families in need of comfort and direction. Keep up the great work!

As a parent, a nurse and a participant in the documentary, I thank Andrew from the CBC for listening and taking a chance on Sheona to produce such a powerful and poignant documentary.

I was honoured to share in the stories of these families and hope that CBC will air it again many times.

I took the documentary to an international conference in the US and they were "blown away" that a broadcaster would be so open to the taboo topics. We hope it is taken up by PBS in the US to get this topic out there.

Congratulations, Sheona, again and again, and thank you to all of you who have identified with this film, whether bereaved parents or not.

For the families whose stories were shared and those who helped Sheona learn more about their beautiful children- your children have made a mark on the world. They won't be forgotten.

Keep telling your stories- it is remembering that makes a difference in the journey of grief.

For those who are lucky enough to have healthy children, hold them tight and, when someone tells you of their loss, no matter when it happened, LISTEN and give them the gift of your presence.

Thank you to CBC for airing such an important documentary. It showed how a usually happy experience of having a child can take a turn the other way. Thanks also to the families who were featured in the documentary for discussing such an enormously difficult and intimate time in their lives and showing others how as a parent you have to make such difficult decisions regarding the future of your children.

Also, as a nurse who works at the NICU at SickKids - i also found this documentary to be helpful in showing my family/friends the emotional aspect of my job (because there really is no way anyone can understand unless they've lived through it - or seen it) - and as an explanation of why sometimes I come home in a sad mood - or with tears in my eyes.

Capturing a Short Life is such an important documentary to share with anyone, and I commend CBC wholeheartedly for having the compassion and insight to see that. This film helps those who've suffered a loss by giving them a feeling of sharing their grief with other families, and it gives those who have not suffered a loss some insight and sensitivity. So many people distance themselves from these types of situations because it's too painful or just to uncomfortable to talk about or experience. This documentary shows that it is a heartbreaking reality all to often, and that we have to reach out to each other in order to keep going and to honor the short lives of the precious angels who grace us for such a short time.

This is the second time I watched this most revealing and courageous documentary -courageous of the film maker and those involved. I have had such difficulty at times with my own situation - a still born child, Noah. My husband and family never talk about him or our experience and that only makes it even more difficult. I can only hope that the documentary does make it to PBS and others come to realize the importance of talking about and documenting these most difficult life experiences. Thank you to CBC and Sheona!

This was such a powerful documentary. The work that Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep does is so important. My parents had a baby girl who didn't live long after birth. I've often wondered what Mary would have been like and what it would have been like to have a little sister. We have no photos and we don't even know where she was buried. I still grieve for the little sister I never knew... I cried throughout the show tonight and marvelled at the strength of both the parents and the nurses.

As the parent of a child with a severe disability, watching this documentary was an emotional roller coaster; my heart could understand what the families lived through but my brain was desperately trying to not see the similarities with my child. When our daughter was first diagnosed my husband and I were often told that we must be strong people to handle things the way we do. I've always responded that you never know how strong you are until you need to be. Although we've had our share of difficulties, we've never been faced with the heart-wrenching decisions these families faced nor the burden they continue to bare. My heart felt sympathies go out to them and to those facing the same decisions. Your courage, grace and dignity and the love you showered on your lost little ones will be remembered and honoured by all who witness it.

To each parent who has loved and lost a child my heart breaks for you. My heart aches for each one of you. To know that you will miss so much I am SO SORRY for your loss. As tears run down my face I am so saddend. no parent should have to say goodbye to their child. For each child I watched last night I say a special prayer. for each family I saw last night I will remember you always. Your child will always be remembered because you loved them.

My thoughts and my prayers are with you.

Tears were streaming down my face last night as I watched the experiences of these families. I wish to thank all the families for sharing their stories with us. Can I just say that I will always remember the images of your precious children. Their lives are reminders to us all of just how fragile life is. Peace be with you.

My sincerest thank you to all who participated in the making of this important documentary and for the producers and CBC for having the vision to embrace its importance.

Both my children were in similar positions of hanging on for their lives after birth and miraculously, and by grace, each of them are still alive today. It is still a moment to moment appreciation for their lives and after finishing my box of kleenex at the conclusion of this important documentary, I've decided to write our story. It is important that these life events are honoured and I am thrilled that photographing and taking molds of precious feet and hands honours these babies' brief yet spectacularly moving lives.

Thank you so much to everyone involved.