LOVE, PAIN AND FAITH. WE SHOOT TO CHANGE LIVES.
Here I am. 11:07pm just sitting down to the computer for the first time today with a fried mind, an overload of work to get done around the studio and little energy left to get out of my office chair.
I walked into the office today around 11:00am, far later than anticipated after picking up prints for the sterile studio walls. My daily schedule fills up quick and moves with the ease of mud. I was quickly bombarded with a mile long “MUST-DO TODAY LIST” from Trevor and a small chunk of my soul spontaneously dried up. I can’t blame him though. He keeps the coffee pot warm, keeps me focused and gets me on track with everything business. It has seemed lately that the hustle of moving into a new studio space has left me void of creativity in my photographic work and all-around exhausted, given the endless pile of work ahead of me. But the show must go on, right?
Everything came to a sudden and grinding halt early on after I received an email from one of my most beloved wedding clients of this past year, telling me one of the flower girls from their wedding had passed away after a short and heroic battle with cancer, a brain tumor to be exact. It wasn’t three months ago that I received the below email from Nancy, the mother of the bride from my July wedding:
David,
You photographed Laura and Erik’s wedding. Nadia Smith was one of four flower girls in the wedding. (Remember, we couldn’t leave anyone out?) Nadia was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor called a Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma. The prognosis is grim; less than 12 months. Nadia was diagnosed less than 2 weeks ago and is now wheelchair bound and unable to speak. Last Thursday, I sent out an email to all of the teachers and staff at my school about Nadia with your photo attached. The email spread all over the country. (There are Amish praying, don’t they NOT have the internet, or for that matter, electricity?) Thousands prayed and a miracle occurred. Below are both emails and attached is your photo.
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I was told that Nadia was diagnosed with a Brain Stem Glioma. This is a fast growing inoperable tumor on her brain stem. Even with the 5 times a week radiation for the next 6 weeks, Nadia has been given less than 10 months to live. She is 5 years old, and just started Kindergarten. Nadia’s diagnosis is grim and her treatment is terrible. I ask that you pray for Nadia, and while you’re at it, pray for a miracle. Please bring her up for your church prayer lists and put her at the top if you can. Send this email to anyone that you know who will pray. This little girl needs prayers from all over the world.
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Dear All,
I think a miracle has occurred. On Thursday, 10/8 Geoff, Nadia’s dad, sent out a blanket email to everyone in his email account. A man who had helped to dig holes for his landscaping called him on his cell phone Friday morning (10/09) with the phone number for the head of oncology at the Mao clinic. Geoff postponed Nadia’s radiation to get a second opinion at the Mao Clinic. Nadia was to have her first radiation treatment at 8:00am on Tuesday 10/13. She woke up slightly sick, and a voice inside Geoff’s chest told him “It’s ok, postpone her appointment to later today.” He did, and at 8:30, the Mao Clinic called to say the FDA had just approved new drug within the last 24 hours and she was to meet the Mao Clinic doctors at St. Jude’s Hospital. They arrived in Memphis three hours later and Nadia has started treatment with a drug called Vandetanib administered concurrently with local radiation therapy. If Nadia had taken her radiation that morning she would not be a candidate for this special treatment. YOU + PRAYER = MIRACLES!
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David, The road is still long, but we do see a tiny glimmer of hope. Your photo helped to compel others to pray.
Thank you,
Nancy Kula
Nadia was strong. She fought an amazing battle that most adults would fear. She received treatments, persevered struggles and endured much over the last few months. Nancy sent me the following email today:
David,
After a heroic three month struggle Nadia Smith passed away on December 27. Your photos have taken on incredible significance to her parents. Along with soil from Nazareth, (her family came from there) she was buried with a photo taken at the wedding. Keep doing the wonderful and significant work that you do.
Sincerely,
Nancy Kula
Nadia was the same age as my daughter Tobin, having just started Kindergarten. I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that Nadia is gone. A five year-old…
When I came home today, I sat on the couch and began telling my wife Melanie about the photos we just picked-up for the studio walls. I was void of any excitement. I realized that moment, none of that superficial crap matters. A moment later I broke into tears, sobbing there on the couch. How can something like this happen?? She was five! She was Tobin’s age, forging her way through Kindergarten. She’s supposed to be full of life, terrorizing her sisters, making messes and being a kid.
It’s just not fair.
But I think the most important part of Nadia’s life was love. Love for family. Love for being a kid, full of life. Love for seeing life in a vibrant and new way. And love of keeping faith.
As fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers and sisters… never loose sight of what’s truly important in life. As photographers, never underestimate the power of your photographs.
Ever.
My heart goes out to Nadia and her family. God bless her sweet soul.
~dave
15 Comments to LOVE, PAIN AND FAITH. WE SHOOT TO CHANGE LIVES.
by Kim
On January 14, 2010 at 11:51 pm
My dear dear friend,
This is why we do this. This. It’s not fair, her life being gone so soon. Just like when you were a Police Officer and you did what you had to do, sometimes the bad guys win. Do all you can. Leave a legacy for someone. Never be complacent. The next time you leave the house not really wanting to shoot a wedding at the VFW hall because it might not benefit your portfolio think of Nadia and shoot the hell out of that wedding. Everyone deserves a memory of a loved one. Everyone. You never know where you are going to touch a life.
by Michael Howard
On January 15, 2010 at 5:49 am
I’m so sorry to hear of Nadia’s passing! I’ll be praying for her family. I’m glad though that stopped to absorb the impact of it within your own life. I’m very guilty of going 1000 miles an hour as I by pass the true important things in life. It’s the American way isn’t it? Building our own kingdoms over building a more important kingdom. Don’t work too hard man! Take at least one day off and week and do nothing but spend time with your family! I know I need to be better at that! Thanks for the blog post. It’s a reality check for all of us sadly.
by Stacy Hughes
On January 15, 2010 at 6:27 am
My heart goes out to Nadia’s family. Thank you for making me stop this morning and take a moment to be grateful for the love & people in my life. Peace.
by Daniel Woolf
On January 15, 2010 at 7:00 am
Thank you for sharing this Dave,
My thoughts and prayers are with Nadia’s family. In life, it’s so easy to get caught up with the daily grind. When we lose someone close to us, it’s crushing. However, it can be the catalyst to make a positive change not only for yourself, but for others around you. It’s true that every day is a gift, and not a “given”.
Never underestimate the gifts that you are blessed with and the importance of utilizing them.
Take care,
Dan
by Brian Davis
On January 15, 2010 at 7:05 am
Beautiful and amazing story of compassion. So much emotion in it, thank you for sharing. Such a sad story. Having lost my father a month ago, I know what the family is feeling. My prayers go out to them.
by Ryan Klos
On January 15, 2010 at 7:16 am
Whoa. I got chills reading this post, Dave. What a testimony to our work as photographers. No matter how insignificant we might think a single photo from a day of hundreds of photos might be, this is proof that each photo matters. Like Kim said, even if it’s a shoot that won’t benefit your portfolio, shoot the hell out of it. Powerful stuff. Thank you for sharing.
by Vicki
On January 15, 2010 at 7:38 am
Oh, wow. This is what it’s all about. Thank you.
by Melanie
On January 15, 2010 at 8:00 am
Thanks baby, for reminding me to stop and enjoy what I have! Love you!
by Sandy
On January 15, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Dave,
I was touched by your tears for Nadia, for her family, for their loss. I know only too well their pain as my son Andrew died on December 4th after battling the same rare tumor for over 25 months.
We, too, have pictures that have become incredibly important to us–pictures that will allow us to chronicle the memory of our precious child, a brief life fully lived–a life that touched many in his eight years on earth.
Thank you for caring.
Sandy Smith
Still Andrew’s Mom, Always Andrew’s Mom
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/aws
by June
On January 15, 2010 at 1:14 pm
My heart just went out to Nadia’s family, you, your family … ALL photographers who realize and live the true meaning of life. Blessings…
by staci
On January 15, 2010 at 3:21 pm
Thank you so much for sharing this. We all get side tracked from time to time with the over abundance of work to get done from the times we are mentally fried. However, stories like this help to constantly remind us of perspective in life. I not only use this story to gain perspective of how important my images are to clients, but how important it is to NEVER put my busyness & my work ahead of my family & children because that could be any of our children. Here today, gone tomorrow. Cherish every moment we have with the people around us. My prayers are with this family.
by Donnan Photo
On January 19, 2010 at 9:54 pm
David,
Once I received a phonecall from a previous wedding client that she needed a photo of her father holding flowers and grinning big in a goofy way in between our formal portraits. You know, those photos you just take for kicks. The ones that never get printed, but you still include them for it shows something about a person’s personality.
Her father passed away and she needed the photo emailed to her so that Kinko’s could print it out. 30 min later it was sent.
As we juggle the 20 hats as photographers making a living, it’s easy to get bogged down with all the things besides the camera. While sad, it brings us back to reality sometimes and suddenly those 20 hats seem a lot lighter, smaller and easier to wear.
by Annie C.
On January 21, 2010 at 5:35 pm
I’m at work catching up on your blog drying off my tears. I lost my grandmother recently to cancer and could never bring myself to photographing her in her final days. It wasn’t how I wanted to remember her, being that she was super thin- skin and bones. I will never take my talent as a photographer for granted. I always knew being a photographer was more than snapping a picture. This reminds me it’s about capturing moments. Thanks for sharing David. My heart and prayers go to the family.
by laureen
On January 31, 2010 at 10:42 pm
wow…such a sad tragic story, but so beautifully written by you. How lovely that your photos will be a source of comfort to her family forever. Bless you.
by Kathy
On February 7, 2010 at 9:13 pm
Really beautiful picture, but more lovely commentary about a beautiful life and heartfelt thoughts. You truly have a gift. Would that we all remember these things. Peace/Out…K