COLUMBUS, Ohio — If there's one thing we have to remind ourselves from time to time, it's that our greatest struggles always lead to our greatest strengths.
And our greatest strengths should always be shared.
It's why Erin Iozzi gets in her car, backs out of her driveway at her northwest Columbus home and drives across town. It's why she walks in the doors, down the halls and into the rooms of those she's never met to take pictures of their newborn babies in the neonatal intensive care unit at Riverside Methodist Hospital.
Hattie Logan is nine days old. She was released from the NICU, Thursday.
Her twin brother, Gus hopes to be released next week. They were born at 34 weeks and three days.
"The newborn photo session," Iozzi said. "You get the cute little baby feet and the hands and the rings on their toes and all that stuff. You know, one of the many things you look forward to as a new parent."
But, Iozzi knows for parents in the NICU, newborn photos are an afterthought. Her son Joseph, six years ago, was born prematurely at 24 weeks.
He was in the hospital for eight months. Today, he's perfectly healthy.
Knowing the worry and uncertainty that comes along with the NICU, Iozzi captures moments families cherish as instant as her shutter speed.
And she does it for free.
Her non-profit, Capturing Courage, has given up almost $18,000 since 2018 while photographing more than 30 families in NICUs across central Ohio.
"It's not just that she's forfeiting money," Coley Logan said. "She's giving up her time to come do these [pictures]."
The Logans are the latest family on Iozzi's list.
"I'm very thankful she's willing to come out and do that and share her talent with everybody," Lynnsey Logan said.
Iozzi's greatest strength shared from her greatest struggle.
"If I can take that [experience] and make something positive out of it and make it a little easier for someone else, then I can sleep really well at night," Iozzi said. "It makes me feel good."
She gives families something to look at from time-to-time to remember their own greatest strengths.
To learn more about Capturing Courage, and to check out future fundraising events and how you can get involved, click here.