Powerful IVF Newborn Photo Celebrates Parents' Rainbow Baby

In vitro fertilization (IVF) offers hope for parents struggling with fertility. Like many pregnancies, the IVF journey can come with its share of ups and downs—something Patricia and Kimberly O’Neill can attest to.

After four years of trying, seven attempts, three miscarriages, and 1,616 injections, the Arizona couple was overjoyed when they finally welcomed baby London to their family in August.

A powerful photo showing London wrapped in a rainbow swaddle and encircled by heart of syringes captures the couples’ journey. Newborn photographer Samantha Packer posted the image to Facebook, where it’s racked up more than 5,000 comments and has been shared more than 61,000 times.

When the couple first began their IVF journey, they had no way of knowing it would be met with so much struggle. After each embryo implantation lead to loss, Patricia thought she had reached her breaking point.

“I was done and I couldn’t do it anymore,” she told CNN. “But my wife and I, we started this journey together, and we decided we would always be together in the hard decisions and she wasn’t done.”

Eventually, they received the best news yet—the fifth embryo was successful. As ecstatic as they were, the pregnancy would also come with fear and uncertainty, hoping that the baby’s heartbeat was still there.

Once the pregnancy was far enough along, they contacted Packer to take London’s newborn photos. “This is the first time I have been asked to do a photo like this! I was honored and wanted to create something special!” Packer wrote on her Facebook post.

The photo struck a chord with many other Facebook users who left comments sharing their joy for the new family of three.

“This is so unique, powerful, encouraging, and beautiful. Well done Packer Family Photography! Congratulations to this family on their sweet blessing!” said one user.

“This photo is absolutely amazing. Hands down to you Samantha. I’m sending so much love to this family and that little baby girl,” another commented.

Some even took it as an opportunity to share stories about their own personal journey with IVF.

“This photo shows so much beauty and strength. Those lovenox injections are no joke. I take eight shots a day and we plan on doing something with all my saved up shots too,” one user shared. “Tell the momma congrats because this is such a photo of strength from one mom who has a similar story. Miscarriage of twins, stillborn triplets, and losing twin B in this current pregnancy. Please tell her my heart goes out to her. 2,072 shots by the time we deliver.”

"There’s a light and you just have to get there,” Patricia responded.

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

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