By Michelle L. Cramer
Founder & Executive Director
Twelve years ago, I set out to address a need no one else in our community was that was fueled by a passion to serve families facing the unimaginable. I had no idea what lie ahead. What started in 2013 as a single camera, one grieving family, and a heart full of conviction has grown into a multi-state organization that has walked alongside nearly 1,800 families through some of their darkest—and most hopeful—moments.
Logan, pictured above, was the first medically fragile child I’d ever taken pictures of, starting back in 2012. My connection with him and his family was the catalyst that pushed me to start On Angels’ Wings.
In the beginning, On Angels’ Wings existed to offer a simple, sacred gift: therapeutic photography and support services for families facing the unthinkable. We had no staff, no funding, and no roadmap—just a belief that every family facing a terminal diagnosis or loss deserved to be seen, heard, and supported with dignity and compassion.
Twelve years later, that belief has become a full-fledged mission, now backed by a growing team and an ever-widening community. We’ve provided over 2,200 therapeutic photo sessions across six states, and our work now includes grief recovery support, mental health and wellness resources, community events, and photographer mentorship. Every single service is still offered completely free of charge, because we never want cost to be a barrier to care.
This past year alone, we completed 418 sessions. We now have more than 130 volunteer photographers (with a 75% retention rate year-over-year), and our footprint continues to expand thanks to dedicated chapters in Oklahoma City, Minneapolis, Evansville (Indiana), and Central Illinois. We were also honored as one of the top three small nonprofits in Southwest Missouri last year. In 2025, we’ve already started expanding further, adding Tulsa and Northwest Arkansas to the regions served. And just in the last few months we’ve seen a large uptick in sessions, going from an average of 20 therapeutic photography sessions a month, to nearly 30 sessions the last three months consistently. This puts 2025 on track to hit 500 sessions in one year for the first time.
Ashlyn has been a recipient since her mom was pregnant with her in October of 2014. Read her story here.
But grief hits more deeply with longevity. There are children and families we’ve walked alongside to support for years—some since nearly the beginning of this organization—and we’re beginning to say painful goodbyes to some of them. Since September 2024, six of the organization’s long term medically fragile children served have passed. It’s a heartbreak we always knew would come, but one we can never be truly prepared for. The bonds we form with these children and their families run deep, and their loss is not just a statistic—it is personal. We grieve with these families. We carry them with us. They have impacted how this organization serves future families and children with even more compassion and dignity.
Ellie was one of OAW’s longest recipients, with her first session in 2015. I was Ellie’s paired photographer until she passed this January. Read Ellie’s story here.
Owen was a recipient since before he was born, and passed on his 7th birthday in September 2024. Read Owen’s story.
We’re not done. In fact, we’re just getting started. With the launching of Legacy of Hope our new children’s grief program that will focus on filling the gaps (such as with siblings of infant loss, or children facing their own life-limiting diagnosis), partnering with more hospitals joining our referral network (which hit 21 last month), creating referral collaborations with like-minded organizations in the areas we serve (see our Partners list), and a renewed focus on mental health support, we are committed to continually doing better and more to serve these families in the years ahead.
To everyone who has walked alongside us over the past 12 years—whether photographer, recipient families, donors, or prayer partners—thank you. This work would not be possible without you.
Here’s to 12 years of compassion, community, and hope—and to the many more to come.
