Let me start by saying if you don't know about The Gold Hope Project yet... you need to check them out (www.goldhopeproject.com and also on facebook.) It's an international group of photographers who provide photography sessions for children who have or have had cancer. The sessions are in service to the family and the project's goal is to raise awareness for childhood cancer. I am honored to have been accepted as one of the participating photographers and even more honored to have Micah be my very first Gold Hope session. Micah is a funny, active, and very healthy 8th grade boy. When you spend time with him nowadays, you would never guess the path he has traveled. When Micah was in the 4th grade, he was diagnosed with T-Cell ALL Leukemia. His treatment lasted for three and a half long years, but thankfully Micah beat this ugly disease. He just recently celebrated his one year "off therapy" anniversary. Each Gold Hope session has a touch of gold and the focus is on "hope". For golf playing Micah, this ball seemed like the perfect hint of gold.
Micah's mom and I had been discussing doing a session with her three boys for a good while now. But one thing or the other kept getting in the way. We knew it would happen, we just weren't sure when. As soon as I found out about The Gold Hope Project, I let Kim know about the group. She eagerly applied for the project and I was delighted when I got to be their photographer. We started out at the river where I knew the golden light would be a beautiful backdrop for these three handsome brothers and their lovely mother.
The main reason Kim wanted to be a part of The Gold Hope Project was because she thought her healthy boy would be a source of hope for those families just starting their journey. In her opinion, the massive time frame of a child's treatment is one of the scariest parts of the diagnosis- realizing you have to live with it for so long. Looking at this healthy young man has to serve as a comfort and inspiration to those parents in the throws of their own journey with their child.
The picture on the right is what I got when I said, "Now give my your 'I kicked cancer's butt' face." Love it.
As if Micah's diagnosis weren't enough for this family, tragedy recently struck. While approaching the end of Micah's therapy last November, his father was killed by a drunk driver. He missed seeing Micah reach his goal of December 4, 2011 which was the last day he took a treatment and the end of a long journey for the family. Though missing their husband and father, this family rejoices at Micah's victory and the smiles on their faces during our session warmed my heart.
Like seems to be the case with most of use with more than one child, these are three very different boys... all wonderful in their own ways.
Gold + Golf Ball + Micah = HOPE
I had to put Micah in this golden light in front of a rusty gold truck... I just HAD to :)
Three brothers... first posing and then being themselves.
Handsome times three...
This is the face of a fighter. This is also the face of HOPE... a healthy Micah.
These last few images of the family are perhaps my favorites from the whole session. The Boggs family is the definition of resilience and I am proud to know them.
Here they are... walking into a future they had not planned or foreseen, but one they will surely be able to weather- together. My heartfelt thanks for letting me share your amazing story.
