“Photograph them like it is their last portrait,” my dear friend Aggie Brooks said after we completed setting up at Children’s Hospital. In my entire career of photography, I had NEVER been given such an important mission. I was so incredibly touched by my experience with Flashes of Hope at the Dallas Children’s Hospital. Flashes of Hope was started in 2011 by the parents of a child diagnosed with cancer. This volunteer driven organization wants to photograph EVERY child with cancer until there is a cure. My friend Aggie had been asking me to participate for some time now. I have to admit that I was not extremely excited to work with sick kids. I wasn’t quite sure that I could handle the responsibility. Being a new mother puts a whole new perspective on things like this. But, I came to find out that God will empower us accordingly to the assignment that we have been given.
And He empowered me tremendously on this day. It just so happened that the day that I was on the books to shoot was, of course, the day that we visited the most severe cased patients at the hospital. “Do not come if you are the slightest bit sick, ” said the volunteer leader. But, my life was forever changed on this day. The parents and children that I met are the most courageous people I have ever seen. And the kiddos were SOOOO excited to get their pictures taken.
One little girl in particular really became by soul teacher that day. As all the kiddos were coming through the line, I kept seeing this little girl crying over in the corner. Apparently, she was not feeling well at all. However, as soon as she got in front of my camera, it was like another person had totally taken over her body. She was the brightest star!! I didn’t even think that a smile could possibly stretch that far. I couldn’t believe this was the same little girl that was crying earlier. When the photo shoot, was wrapping up I told her thank you. The little girl immediately started crying again. Her mother told me that she was having a very bad day. I asked her, “Do you want me to take some more pictures?” She shook her head no, sobbing. She knew her time was done but, she made the most of it while she was there. Most of us would probably not even come to get our picture taken if we felt that way. But, for that brief little moment, she gave it 110%!!! She was my best teacher and reminded me to give it my ALL in every second that I am given, ESPECAILLY when you don’t feel like it.
Thank you Children’s Hospital, Flashes of Hope, Aggie Brooks, the hard working clowns at Children’s Hospital, Jodie Boutilier, and all the beautiful children and parents fighting cancer.
For any photographers interested in volunteering for Flashes of Hope: http://www.flashesofhope.org/photographing-children/apply
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