I’ll never forget the night that one of my closest friends called from the hospital. An MRI had revealed a large tumor in her 6-year-old son’s cerebellum. He was heading into surgery. I kept vigil with her that night and, when he suffered a stroke intraoperatively (a known risk given the size and placement of the tumor), my heart shattered.

All of life suddenly felt so fragile.

A few months later, my camera and I joined her at the children’s hospital in Chicago to document this hard chapter of their life as a family. I still remember the smell of Thieves in the room diffuser, the tenderness in my friend’s eyes, the way she knew what he needed without him asking, and how small her son looked in that hospital bed.

I returned home determined to make a difference in the cancer community with my camera. This led to establishing myself as the first in-house family photographer at Boston Children’s Hospital and becoming an ambassador for The Gold Hope Project, which donates photo sessions to families with a child battling cancer.

As photographers with The Gold Hope Project, we have the privilege of giving families a gift of hope and joy during one of the most challenging times in their lives. Capturing these moments means more than just photos—it’s about creating lasting memories that bring light to their darkest days. Through our work, we provide families with cherished images that remind them of their strength, love, and resilience.

Meet a little warrior who is forever imprinted on my heart. His smiles and laughter made me forget for a time all the fears and challenges he had faced. During our session, we were fully present in the now, and that all seemed far away.

Cameras in the hands of empathic artists can be instruments of hope and healing. I pray mine was.

(Please look into The Gold Hope Project for yourself. You won’t regret offering families a gift of hope in the midst of the darkness.)