Welcome Baby Jasper

It was a true honor to spend the day with Kamilia and her family at Jersey City Medical Center, where she gave birth to her son, Jasper. It’s hard to put into words the depth of emotion that comes with witnessing the birth of a new life—it’s a quiet kind of awe, mixed with joy, and the gravity of change.

Kamilia’s mother had traveled all the way from Algeria to be there for her daughter. I’ll never forget the look on her face as she cradled her grandson during his first hour in this world. It was a moment filled with love, but also a mother’s quiet worry, as she watched over her daughter and her new grandchild. That instant of connection across generations—raw, unguarded—was something I was deeply grateful to capture.

Then there was Arya, Jasper’s 6-year-old sister, absorbing the changes around her with a mix of emotions. Her reactions ranged from curiosity to uncertainty, and seeing those feelings play out was both moving and real. It reminded me how families, in moments like this, are shifting and growing together.

Being part of these intimate moments is a reminder of why I do this work—to tell the quiet, powerful stories of life as it happens, in all its complexity.