‘Save a memory’: Former volunteer returns to Nebraska Medicine for holiday photos

Holidays are whirlwinds. Holidays in the hospital are whirlwinds in a foreign world. But Nebraska Medicine and its volunteers are doing what they can to make the holiday a little brighter and calmer. Paige Telly’s job as a photographer is to capture the moment. Sometimes that moment is peaceful. Sometimes it’s chaos. “Being able to capture all the moments through photography is what brings it all together for me,” he said. “I like people to see their true, authentic light, which everyone else should see as well.” Telley volunteered on the Child Life and Family Development team at Nebraska Medicine. She graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in Child Youth and Family Studies, but discovered that photography was her true passion. “These kids are going through such stressful situations that we’re there to give them play therapy and to ease them here — experiences that they can feel, taste or smell,” she said. “We prepare them for all possible experiences so that they have the whole situation at ease.” From play therapy to photography, Telley now spends some of her vacation giving back to the place that means so much to her. “They are so busy with all the activities and things going on here that they never take the time to take a photo and capture the memories together,” she said. The Hunt family is in Nebraska Medicine but lives in Texas. “My 3-year-old Nehemiah had a triple transplant,” said mom Sabian Hunt. “He got a new small intestine, a new liver and a new pancreas.” Nehemiah is still attached to numerous wires and monitors, but for now they can be pushed aside and forgotten. “And now just seeing her move around happy with herself and smiling through everything she has to go through honestly makes little moments like this even better,” Hunt said. Families hope the hospitalization will be over in no time, but many at Nebraska Medicine are here for days, weeks or even months. Samantha Garza is also from Texas. His son Giancarlo is only a few months old. “His bowels were constricted from blood flow,” he said. “So he lost 90% of his intestine. There are no doctors in Texas that can treat something like that, so we were flown to Omaha to get him the help he needed.” The Garza family has been here since October 22nd. “It’s hard, but I’m thankful he’s getting the help and treatment he needs,” Garza said. Years later, the 2024 holiday is just a moment away for the Garza and Hunt families. Families don’t forget heartbreak and pain, but with the help of holiday photos, it might be remembered as a moment of hope. “It’s just a beautiful experience,” Garza said. “Pictures are worth a thousand words, and they’re memories. You can just look back and think of a time when things weren’t so hopeful. Years from now, you’re like, wow, I remember that moment in life and how I thought it couldn’t get any better and now everything is better.” You can see more of Telley’s photos on her Instagram page or on her website Paige Lee Photography. Click here for the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7

The holidays are a whirlwind.

Holidays in the hospital are a whirlwind in a strange world.

But Nebraska Medicine and its volunteers are doing what they can to make the holiday a little brighter and calmer.

Paige Telly’s job as a photographer is to capture the moment. Sometimes that moment is peaceful. Sometimes it’s chaos.

“Being able to capture all the moments through photography is what brings it all together for me,” he said. “I like people to see their true, authentic light, which everyone else should see as well.”

Telley volunteered on the Child Life and Family Development team at Nebraska Medicine. She graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in Child Youth and Family Studies, but discovered that photography was her true passion.

“These kids are going through such stressful situations that we’re there to give them play therapy and to ease them here — experiences that they can feel, taste or smell,” she said. “We prepare them for all possible experiences so that they have an easy time with the whole situation.”

From play therapy to photography, Telley now spends part of her vacation giving back to the place that means so much to her.

“They are so busy with all the activities and things going on here that they never take the time to take a photo and capture the memories together,” she said.

The Hunt family is in Nebraska Medicine but lives in Texas.

“My 3-year-old Nehemiah had a triple transplant,” said mom Sabian Hunt. “He got a new small intestine, a new liver and a new pancreas.”

Nehemiah is still attached to numerous wires and screens, but for now they can be pushed aside and forgotten.

“And now just seeing her move around happy with herself and smiling through everything she has to go through honestly makes little moments like this even better,” Hunt said.

Families hope the hospitalization will be over in no time, but many at Nebraska Medicine are here for days, weeks or even months.

Samantha Garza is also from Texas. His son Giancarlo is only a few months old.

“His bowels were constricted from blood flow,” he said. “So he lost 90% of his intestine. There are no doctors in Texas that can treat something like that, so we were flown to Omaha to get him the help he needed.”

The Garza family has been here since October 22nd.

“It’s hard, but I’m thankful he’s getting the help and treatment he needs,” Garza said.

Years later, the 2024 holiday is just a moment away for the Garza and Hunt families. Families don’t forget heartbreak and pain, but with the help of holiday photos, it might be remembered as a moment of hope.

“It’s just a beautiful experience,” Garza said. “Pictures speak a thousand words, and they’re memories. You can just look back and think of a time when things weren’t so hopeful. Years from now, you’re like, wow, I remember that moment in life and how I thought it couldn’t get any better and everything is better now.”

You can check out more of Telly’s photos on her Instagram page or her website, Paige Lee Photography.

Click here for the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7


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