Many parents like to do photoshoots with their newborn babies. These are a way to capture those precious first few weeks with their newest family members. For the Brentlinger family, however, the newborn photos they have of their twins they will cherish forever, for a heart-wrenching reason. Due to heart defects, they knew their son William’s time on Earth would be short.

This photographer captured their beautiful baby boy and his sister before it was too late. Lindsay and Matthew Brentlinger of Ohio were ecstatic when they found out they would be welcoming not one, but two babies into their family. Unfortunately, their bliss was not to last. The doctors informed them that their son, William, had heart abnormalities and would likely be born stillborn.

Miraculously, however, Lindsay gave birth to two living babies on December 17, 2016. Overjoyed that they were able to meet their son, they also knew that his life would be very, very short. The doctors said it could be weeks, days, or even hours long.“I was so happy they were finally here and that Will was stable,” Lyndsay said. “But I was also scared of when I would lose him.”

All they could do was enjoy what little time they had with their baby boy, and to enjoy being parents to a set of twins while they could. Their friend Mandy Edwards decided she wanted to help them preserve these memories as best she could. She reached out to local photographer Lindsay Brown to see if she would be available at the last minute to do a family photo shoot.

“I knew immediately I had to do this for them,” said Brown. “How could anyone with a heart say no to that?” Brown went to the family’s house that weekend to do the shoot. It was a profound experience for her as a photographer. For the family, it was completely unforgettable. They were extremely grateful that Brown took the time out of her busy schedule to do this shoot for them.

“I could not believe how perfect they both looked. They were both in the five-pound range when I photographed them. William was extremely alert, as if he was trying to take it all in, while little Reagan slept and barely opened her eyes,” Brown said of the shoot. ““It was extremely bittersweet the entire time I was there. They acted and looked perfect.

You would never have guessed something was wrong with dear Will.” Little William died just a few days after the shot, at the age of 11 days. Linsday and Matthew were going through a terrible time. The mixed emotions of first-time parents were exacerbated by the knowledge that one of their children will die very soon.

They have received the gift of memories as a result of this session. Not only will they be able to look back on them, but William’s sister Reagan will have these images with her twin brother to gaze at for the rest of her life. The parents recall the 11 days they spent as a family of four as some of the happiest of their lives. Lindsay claims that these photographs will be among her most prized things for the rest of her life.

“Most importantly, I intend to share them with Will’s older sister, Reagan,” Lyndsay stated. “I’ll tell her about her brother, who is now her angel in paradise.” This was an event and opportunity that photographer Brown will remember. She is overjoyed that she was able to capture this family’s special moments with their infant child.

She believes the images will bring them peace and joy for many years. “Knowing they’ll be able to look back on [these images] for the rest of their life, and that they’ll be able to show Reagan when she’s older, thrills my heart more than words can express.”