Today was my fifth visit with the beautiful staff and participators of HopeWell Cancer Support.  It was our second day of capturing footage for a new project we are working on as a team!  We are calling this Project “HopeWell: 20 stories of Hope”

Hopewell opened it’s doors now over twenty years ago to be a sanctuary to lives touched by cancer; be it a survivor, family member, or caretaker…

Each time I step foot onto HopeWell’s grounds I am overcome with a sigh of relief, a sense of excitement, and peace.  I found HopeWell just by chance when sending my Dad’s memoir out to local cancer support centers.  Suzanne was so excited and we instantly sparked a similar bond and unique ability to dream and collaborate instantaneously!!   I am so filled with joy to be able to share my ability as a photographer and capture this film of 20 peoples lives and their stories touched by HopeWell Cancer Support.  My dad and I talked for years about how I could use my photography to tell others’ stories…and well here I am, years later watching the dream come full circle to reality.  Absolutely blessed to be apart of this journey with 20 people sharing their inner most thoughts and “tidbits” with strangers.  In hope that one phrase, sentence, or just glance will help someone else find comfort through the doors of HopeWell.

Today I heard from a beautiful woman Masi who spoke of her journey with Hopewell and the family she has built within the support groups over just 5 months.  She and I instantly had a connection.  While I was setting up I noticed how the birds, bugs, trees were an orchestra of sounds!  Masi sat down & they were even louder!  Their chirping and carrying on got so loud, that I mentioned it to her and we laughed about it!  She told me that we call it “spirit” but in her native language, Farsi, they call it “souls”.  She said the orchestra was all the past souls sharing their joy and acceptance with us…a truly beautiful thought.  Once she began speaking the orchestra of birds hushed.  Really quite amazing what one notices if you just sit back, be still, and listen…

Me and Masi!  She will forever be in my heart and on my mind.  I never know when, why, or how but some people come into your life for just short moments but leave a profound impact.

Below is just the beginning of these stories that I want to share along the way, so pull up a seat, grab a cup’o’joe and remember to check back when the full video is released!!

Life is definitely a process of ups and downs and along the way we learn new and exciting things.  Sometimes we fall back maybe forget how to walk or speak, other times we move so fast ahead we can’t keep up… In the end it’s just about living.  It’s best to reflect immediately after amazing moments in your life…I couldn’t believe it today but Marla reiterated almost exactly what my Dad said over 2 years ago in his memoir photo-video…

“Taking the time to listen.  The essence of life is living it”

The first six stories for Hopewell’s 20 Stories of Hope project:

Felicia – June 2, 2013

Paula: June 2, 2013

Masi: July 9, 2013

Lauri & Abe: July 9, 2013

Marla: July 9, 2013

Elise, Caleb & Coby

Thanks to my awesome partner in crime Travis Curry for helping out on the first day of filming HopeWell’s Stories on June 2, 2013!!