As a first-time mom, Karen Ficek found herself on bedrest after having developed pre-eclampsia. After two weeks on bedrest, her pregnancy resulted in a 32-week premature daughter, born at 3 pounds, 15 ounces. It was a scary experience, but nothing like her second pregnancy, when she went on bedrest at 6 months pregnant, again developing severe preeclampsia. This time around she found herself lying alone in a dark, silent hospital room while her platelets dropped and her kidneys started to fail. At 28 weeks and 4 days pregnant, she was wheeled to the OR for an emergency c-section that resulted in the birth of her 2 pound, 2 ounce baby girl. Those girls are now thriving young women, who are both pursuing careers in the medical field.
Karen’s experiences have sparked a passion in her: to support NICU families who are navigating this difficult time in their lives. Karen understands all too well the importance of fostering feelings of family when new parents are acclimating to life inside a hospital room. “I remember sitting next to her isolette, wondering if she would ever go home with me,” Karen said. “There were so many scary events throughout our NICU journey that at times I had to disconnect myself just to cope. In the beginning, I thought of her as a patient more than a daughter. That’s why I’m so passionate about supporting NICU families and honoring their journeys. I want them to know this is just a moment in time. I want to share our story and bring these families hope. I want to help them to celebrate their beautiful new family, even though I know they are mourning the birth experience they didn’t have.”
Karen Ficek Photography offers no cost photo sessions for NICU families in the Omaha area. The photo sessions are held in the NICU, or at an agreed upon indoor or outdoor location if the baby has been released from the hospital. The sessions and photos are entirely free of charge. The sessions generally take 15-30 minutes, and include edited digital photos delivered via text or email, along with the rights to download the images.
This offer started the first week of February 2026. Since then, Karen has received inquiries from 85 NICU families. Twenty-seven of those families have had photo sessions, with another 7 scheduled and another 15 pending a birth, surgery, or other medical event. Karen is thrilled with the response. Her biggest challenge has been reaching the NICU families. After spending several hundred dollars on Facebook ads targeted on finding NICU families, Karen is now needing to rely on assistance from anyone who can help spread the word.
Karen went on to say “while the NICU experience can be scary and stressful, the NICU is also a beautiful place. It’s a place where miracles happen. It’s a place where lifelong bonds are created with people who are doing so much more than ‘their jobs.’ I feel incredibly blessed to be invited to share a few moments with families who are navigating these difficult times. I hope to be a ray of sunshine on a day they really need it.”
More information about Karen Ficek Photography can be found on Facebook and Instagram, at KarenFicekPhotography.com (Password: loveandjoy) or at karenficekphotography.mypixieset.com.
