07/02/2025
It has been nearly two years since I posted on my photography page. Of course the majority of my followers realize that my last post was just a couple of weeks before my son's cancer diagnosis. While he was in treatment, and for quite some time since, I lacked the time, energy, and really the spark I needed to do much besides keeping Heath alive. I feel like our family is just starting to truly heal from the emotional trauma of what cancer did to us. After diagnosis, you hit the ground running. No time to process, feel, think. Despite this, Heath still inspired my craft and I tried to remember to take pictures of him, and I think I'm ready to share some of these. It felt weird taking pictures of some of the lowest points of our lives, but these milestones are every bit as important as any other. I've had the opportunity to work with some great people recently on exciting photoshoots, and that has brought back my desire to capture other peoples' special memories, but I first want to share what my lens has seen during the past two years. This first set of photos are from September 24th, 2023, 4 days into his week-long initial admission after his diagnosis/surgery. When we arrived at the hospital, he weighed 31 pounds. After the tumor was removed he weighed 28 pounds. He wasn't permitted to eat until the 6th day after his surgery, at which point he weighed only 24 pounds. When I look at these photos I can physically remember what his tiny, frail frame felt like. He hated the 'bo**er' they put in his nose to pump out stomach bile. He's clutching cars that were given to him by loved ones to give him comfort. He's probably watching winnie the pooh, frozen, or toy story. So many memories and emotions come back with these. I share these to urge you to take pictures, freeze your memories as they happen, not necessarily as you plan them. I love a beautifully posed and styled shoot, but these photos matter too.