In August of 2014, my Dad was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer at the age of 55.
Our family was completely blindsided when he was given a terminal prognosis. We didn't really know what came next, and were just determined to cherish the time we had left-- but time seemed to be moving so quickly. Too quickly. When a family friend offered to take family portraits of us, we seized the opportunity. Those photos became an immediate keepsake and as time has passed, a solace. It seems such a simple, obvious thing, but at a time when I felt so helpless yet had no answers for all of the, "What can I do to help?" questions... It was perfect.
Shortly after Dad's passing on May 10th of 2015, my sisters and I began a Pay It Forward initiative in his honor, that we called Do It For Buddy. This initiative has taken different forms over the years and as time has passed it has ebbed and flowed. Recently, I was looking at those precious photos (which you can scroll down to see below) and it occurred to me that I could take this gift that had been given to us and keep it going for others. In grieving my Dad, I have found the greatest cure for my own hurt to be helping others.
The cards we made to distribute when we would pay it forward in Dad's honor, circa 2016.
In that spirit, I would like to offer no-cost (free!) photo sessions to families in the Savannah, Georgia area who have a loved one facing terminal conditions. This could be a human, or even a beloved pet. If it happens that I could give a small piece of permanence to others who know the immense, unspeakable ache of saying goodbye long before you could ever begin to be ready, I would be honored to provide it. I am naming this endeavor Heirloom Initiative, as my hope is to offer people something to pass down to the next generations to come.
Nothing can really prepare you for losing someone, but I can say from experience that you can never take too many photos. Please complete an application if you are interested in having portraits done and I will contact you to discuss further and schedule your session!
A special thank you to Casey Futrell for the above photos and for her gentle spirit and generosity. 9 years later and counting, these photos still mean more than I can begin to put into words.