NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2021 - 28

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Abby: For Abby, her Cheshire grin illuminated the room
when, after she snuck a second lollypop, she ran to her
mom, wrapped her arms around her mother's neck, and
offered her a lick. These images told the story of her
playful personality and the adoration she had for her
mother.
Caitlyn: For Caitlyn, in her prom dress, it was the first
time she had ever worn a formal dress, and she sparkled in
it as much as the beads on the dress sparkled when the
sun hit them. These images provided a vision for her
parents of her dressed fancy as she would be on the
wedding day that sorrowfully she would not ever be able
to experience.
Arturo: For Arturo, standing on his tippy toes to achieve
his dad's height, looking dapper in his classic three-piece
suit. One could already see the striking stature of
determination he would have exhibited as a grown man.
Natalie: Natalie was turning eight years old the weekend
that we met her family in Napa to capture her images.
Exuberantly, this little girl popped out of her car and
rhythmically skipped towards us, her smile sure to ignite
the mustard growing in the nearby field where we planned
to shoot. The mustard bloom cast a flax-colored hue in the
setting sun.
" Natalie's hair was about that color, " her mother
expressed as she reflected upon the little girl now
shepherding her toddling brother from the car and
towards us. Her eyes were reflective of a mixture of
sorrow and reminiscence, and her head was shaven in
glorious solidarity with her daughter. " The whole family
chose to shave their heads when Natalie began to lose her
hair, " she explained.
At this point, Natalie and Owen had gotten close enough
to hear our conversation.
" We even shaved our dog's hair off, " Natalie shared with
an engaging grin.
Following Natalie's lead, off to the field we skipped.
Through the camera, we caught a spirited little girl who
would not let leukemia dull her curiosity. Natalie, Owen,
and we played hide and seek in the vines and chased a few
feral cats (although we believe it would have been easier
to catch the cats than those two!). All the while, the wind
teased the air, gently blowing my unbanded hair.
28 Newsline / Winter 2021
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2021

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