The hardest blog I have ever blogged in my year of blogging….

……..It all started at a wedding almost 2 years ago that I photographed. A girl named Nicole was at that wedding, she then hired me to take her lovely nieces senior photos. I really liked Nicole. She just has that personality that I’m drawn to, relaxed, some what free spirited , happy and just seemed “fun”.

…..last week I got a call from nicole telling me that her brother inlaw, Mike,  was going to have surgery because he has cancer.  She wondered if I could come on short notice to take some photos. I really had so much going on that day and almost said no but I was so glad I didn’t. You see that day was so precious. I knew mike had cancer but I didn’t want to ask any questions to invoke any sadness . When I was there I could feel something that I don’t feel during most photo shoots,  it was bitter sweet. Mike and and his wife Meghan were very much in love and they were happy. They had a sparkle in their eyes that most people don’t have, but I knew that sparkle probably came from the fact that they have learned to treasure each moment. The way she looked at him was so sweet, like being in his arms is the only thing she would want to do for the rest of her life. 

….I was going to blog about them that night and not say anything emotional or personal about the family and only write the obvious, that they were a beautiful family. ….Then I went to pick up a pizza and saw a sign hanging on the wall , my daughter who likes to look at the my photos said, isn’t that the family you photographed. I said, oh my,  yes it is. I stood there for awhile reading it over and over.  I then asked Nicole if It would be ok to share the story with my viewers since it was obviously public news. …….you see I didn’t realize mike has been struggling with cancer for the last 10 years and that he had a cancer so rare.As I opened up the photos to choose them for this blog. I looked at them and said to myself how can he have that happy sparkle in his eye with all he has been through. My answer to myself is ……..He is a hero. He lives for today, for each moment. His wife and family love him and people must be praying for him.

So I’m asking all of you to pray for Mike in his family. I believe in prayer….  Here is mikes story……written by his mom via face book

In 2006 a lesion in the sacral area, of the spine within the bone increased in size. A biopsy was performed and the lesion result was inconclusive. Mike then repeated pelvic scans every 3 months for three years. May 2009, Mike began to have back pain. Specialists treating Mike ordered a pelvic scan. The result of the scan showed the lesion on the sacrum had tripled in size. For the next 6 months Mike was treated by Dr.Einhorn and a team of specialists. Soon after the treatment Mike was to referred to Dr. Wolinski, assistant professor of neurosurgery, clinical director of the Johns Hopkins spine program, at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore MD. September 2009, a sacrum biopsy was performed and the results were again nonconclusive. Leaving neurologists and oncologists questioning what was growing on the scrum. October 2009 another biopsy was performed, resulting in the same findings. December 2009, Dr. Wolinksi ordered Mike to have an open bone biopsy a risky procedure requiring Mike to be off work for 5 weeks. The results of the open bone biopsy had revealed the same two rare forms of cancer that he had in 2001. The cancers are rhabdomyosarcoma and terratoma, and have metastasized in the bone. This has never been seen in the scrum by any spine specialist in the world. Johns Hopkins is the only hospital in the United States who performs approximately 12 spinal scrum procedures a year. March 1, 2010, Mike is scheduled to have extensive spinal surgery, removing half of the scrum. Nerves and other bones will be removed and secured to the lower lumbar spine with rods, pins and screws. This surgery will take 1-3 days at 12 hour shifts per day. Mike will be in hospitalized for a month and will undergo extensive rehabilitation and therapy. Full recovery will be a minimal of one year.

Mike resides in Warren, PA with his wife Meghann, daughter Cayla 3, and son Dylan 8 months.

Grandma was ther for a few photos also.

 I dont title my photos but If I did this would be called grandma heaven.

of course I had to get some photos of Nicole and her family