Phoenix Gold Hope Project Photography Session
Waverly
A few years ago, I lost my big brother (in law) to terminal brain cancer and only six weeks later, doctors found my thyroid cancer. It was a really, really tough time for my entire family and when we got through it, I decided to do what I could to help make other people’s cancer journey a little easier. I came across The Gold Hope Project – a non-project organization that connects families of children with cancer with photographers across the country, and I knew I had to be part of it.
And that is how I met 4 year old Waverly, as well as her parents Krysten and Raul, and her 11 month old brother, Adonis. Waverly has Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of soft tissue cancer. At only 14 months old, Krysten and Raul noticed a lump under skin near her nose, which turned out to be a cancerous tumor. Waverly has undergone so much since then, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery for tumor resections.
Talking with Krysten about it at their session – I’ve never met a mom so strong, facing insurmountable, devastating odds with such courage and strength that still has me in awe. Waverly is the sweetest, most outgoing girl; during her session, she loved dancing and twirling with her daddy, lovingly hugging on to her mom, and playing together with Adonis in the desert sand. I’m so grateful to have met this family and given them memories I know they’ll treasure forever.
If you’d like to learn more, please go visit Waverly’s Gold Hope Session.
