This is the face........ Child and Family Photographer, Victoria BC

THIS is the FACE of Breast Cancer.

THIS is the FACE of Breast Cancer.

THIS is the FACE of Breast Cancer.

THESE are the FACES of Breast Cancer.

You probably all think that you know where this story is going to end.  I bet you maybe wrong.  I met Cheryl and her daughter about 2 years ago and Cheryl's mom Frances last week.  I did Miss Ava's pictures for the first time in the fall when she was about 15 months old.  Cheryl was going to book a session this past spring, but like what often happens, life gets in the way.

Cheryl is a single mom and in for a fight for her life.....yes Breast Cancer.  Cheryl is a facebook friend.  She is not someone I know well or talk to regularly, but when I read her updates, her anger, her sadness, her anxiousness, I felt close to her somehow.  I think it was because I was approaching my 40th birthday back in June when I first heard about Cheryl's diagnosis.  I couldn't even imagine dealing with this, and then I thought about my own sister with 2 small children, how would she cope if she was given this challenge?  I thought about this for a couple of weeks and finally I made a decision.  I belong to a group called Helping Hearts.  We are a group of photographers that volunteer our time and capture memories for families that have sick children.  I have yet to do a session with this group but think it is such a great idea and then thought about why couldn't I just do a session for whomever I wanted :)  

A few weeks back I posted a link on my facebook page to a link of a fellow photographer friend in Ottawa.  I loved this post so much, about how we wait to take pictures, until we are thinner, less grey, dressed appropriately etc.  Also about just capturing the moments, all the moments and not putting it off.  I know that Cheryl is going to be just fine....I feel it in my SOUL, honestly I do.  But I wanted to capture a few moments of her just being with her daughter and her mom and little Sidney.  Cheryl had surgery this week and once the healing is done, chemotherapy and radiation will follow.  My gift to her was this session and a disk with all the images.  I had a hard time culling (going through and getting rid of the ones I wouldn't normally present in a gallery) this session.  Instead I think there are going to be about 65 proofs because every laugh and smile--even though the same "pose" captured my heart, and I am sure that they will capture Cheryl's as well.

My wish for her is to cherish all the moments as she undertakes this fight.  Hopefully the pics will get her through some of the hard days.  I am sure you can tell from the pictures that Ava is a character and that her laugh and smile are contagious.  

When I messaged Cheryl to tell her that I would like to give her a session and cd, she responded in a generous and lovely voice, saying that she would be thrilled to have me do the session.  Then she gave me the number for the BC Mammogram Agency (that day was my birthday and she saw the well wishes on facebook) and urged me to phone and make an appointment.  I made that appointment for August 2nd.  I urge any woman who is reading this post who is over 40 and hasn't had a mammogram, to phone on Monday!!  If you are in BC, the number is 1-800-669-9203.

Here a few more of my favourite images from the session.

A little bribery for the end of the session never hurts!!

I love a lot of them from the day, but this is one of my favourites......simple.