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Life with cancer… 4+ years later. (Please Pass This On)

Published by brianwedge on October 2, 2009 in Brian Wedge Photography, Life With Cancer, Uncategorized, inspiration and livestrong. 9 Comments

Today is a day about truth. Today is also a day about taking action. Today is the day that, once again… the pain, hurt, fury and frustration has boiled to the surface… and I am fired up enough to write another passage about what it’s like to be a survivor of cancer.

These messages were painted on the roads of the Tour de France before the peleton pedaled through.

Just as Lance Armstrong was pedaling through France this past summer, I was spending two wonderful weeks with my big sister Lea. Diagnosed with leukemia on January 10, 2005, Lea has survived a barrage of assaults on her body, mind and spirit. Not surprisingly, for those that know and love her… she is a unyielding fighter… who can reach deep into her soul and produce courage and focus that is truly incredible. Many would say that Lea has beaten cancer, and by all medically relevant standards she has… but there’s so much more to her story, more that is easily ignored, forgotten or avoided: It’s the aftermath.

There’s a lot of hardship in this world… and my guess is that folks who have endured severe tests of the spirit, know a thing or two about surviving. But like the person who climbs out the wreckage after a tornado destroys their home, or the soldier who spends months in physical therapy learning to walk again… there are certain challenges that take years and even decades to rebuild from. Leukemia has been that for our family. Lea beat hell out of her cancer, but it’s impacts are still felt everyday.

You did it Lea… you really did!!

We first became involved with Doug Ulman and the LIVESTRONG movement in the moments after Lea’s diagnosis. Through the tears and the nausea of the news, LIVESTRONG was the first organization that really tapped into our fighting spirit. There was an unapologetic belief that there was strength in unity, and that hope was as powerful as any cancer drug would ever be. We’re forever grateful and as a result we want to make sure that everyone out there understands how important it is that we unite together against the epidemic of cancer.

So today happens to be LIVESTRONG Day and there are ways YOU can help. We are donating 10% of our annual profits to Livestrong and like minded charities… so our request isn’t for moola… it’s for involvement.

Here’s how:

1.) Register your bone marrow: Swab your cheek with a Q-tip at home for FREE as part of becoming a bone marrow donor. If you’ve been meaning to do this, do it today. It’s easy and you’re saving someone’s life!!! PLEASE do this. If you already have done it… THANK YOU! Please write in and tell us what made you do it!

VIDEO: How to register / get tested

Here’s how to sign up for a free test kit (donations accepted but not required):

http://www.dkmsamericas.org/category/marrow-donors/become-donor

You might never be a match, but if you are… wow, you’re in the position to save someone’s life!! You’re not donating a kidney or a lung now… so get that whole gory, life altering surgery concept out of your head right off the bat. The act of bone marrow donation can take on one of two different forms, but 70% of all donations are taken in a procedure very similar to the simple act of donating blood. The cold hard truth though is that every year 35,000 people need a donor and only 3800 will find one. Bottom line: we need more people involved and you could be that one!

A great video that explains what the actual donation process is here:

2.) Get healthy and get involved. Go for a walk today, ride your bike, play with your kids, smoke one less cigarette, eat a salad… whatever. Do something healthy for you and your family.

3.) Livestrong: it’s not all about Lance… it’s about uniting against cancer. Get involved through this link here. While you’re at LIVESTRONG, go buy some of their sweet gear, and wear it with pride knowing that you’re helping a great organization with your cash while raising awareness about cancer. If you want to understand what LIVESTRONG is to survivors like us, here’s their manifesto:

THE MANIFESTO OF THE LANCE ARMSTRONG FOUNDATION

We believe in life.
Your life.
We believe in living every minute of it with every ounce of your being.
And that you must not let cancer take control of it.
We believe in energy: channeled and fierce.
We believe in focus: getting smart and living strong.
Unity is strength. Knowledge is power. Attitude is everything.
This is the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

We kick in the moment you’re diagnosed.
We help you accept the tears. Acknowledge the rage.
We believe in your right to live without pain.
We believe in information. Not pity.
And in straight, open talk about cancer.
With husbands, wives and partners. With kids, friends and neighbors. And the people you live with, work with, cry and laugh with.
This is no time to pull punches.
You’re in the fight of your life.

We’re about the hard stuff.
Like finding the nerve to ask for a second opinion.
And a third, or a fourth, if that’s what it takes.
We’re about getting smart about clinical trials.
And if it comes to it, being in control of how your life ends.
It’s your life. You will have it your way.

We’re about the practical stuff.
Planning for surviving. Banking your sperm. Preserving your fertility. Organizing your finances. Dealing with hospitals, specialists, insurance companies and employers.
It’s knowing your rights.
It’s your life.
Take no prisoners.

We’re about the fight.
We’re your champion on Capitol Hill. Your advocate with the healthcare system. Your sponsor in the research labs.
And we know the fight never ends.
Cancer may leave your body, but it never leaves your life.
This is the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
Founded and inspired by one of the toughest cancer survivors on the planet.

LIVESTRONG

***********************************************************

Ok… that’s it! Thanks for hearing us, thanks for being involved, thanks to Tammy for donating her bone marrow to my sister… and most of all, thanks to Lea Morrison who inspires me everyday with her attitude, action and love.

To Lea: I couldn’t be more proud to be your little brother, and I want you to know that I understand how hard you work EVERY day to stay healthy and positive. You have earned your title of Survivor the hard way. I hope you will take a moment today, on LIVESTRONG Day to celebrate how far you have come!!

Highlight of the year: The Gift of Life… (Please Pass This On)

Published by brianwedge on May 28, 2009 in Life With Cancer, News, Social Responsibility, Uncategorized, inspiration and livestrong. 7 Comments

We have had a GREAT winter and spring thus far, supporting clients all over the globe, shooting in some pretty incredible locations… but business and life have been busier than ever. As I look back on all the achievements, opportunities and folks we’ve worked with… I realize that this is the very first year in the past four years that I wasn’t absolutely consumed with thoughts of my sister’s cancer, her bone marrow transplant and the messy logistics that goes along with all of that.

My sister’s improved health has been the result of tenacious determination, an indefatigable spirit, a talented team of caregivers… and most importantly, the selfless, incredible gift from her anonymous bone marrow donor.

Recently, I had the amazing opportunity to actually meet my sister’s bone marrow donor. Her donor’s name is Tammy, she’s about my sister’s age, and we had dinner together along with her fabulous husband Chris just before I flew out for another photo shoot. Meeting Tammy and Chris was one of the most surreal moments of my life. I was giddy with excitement, bubbling over with emotion (READ: tears)… and challenged to fully express my sense of gratitude for her sacrifice, and for the lifetime of pain she had spared Lea and everyone in our family. As much as I wanted to know all about her and Chris, she wanted to know all about Lea and the process from the patient’s side. We talked for hours sharing our experiences.

With The Heroes: Chris and Tammy on the left (and me)

I spent most of the night thanking them both for their efforts, for their selfless gifts, and for THEIR determination to see this process through. Tammy and Chris had a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to help someone that they didn’t even know… and they took it.

Some call it Providence, some call it karma… others call it dumb luck. Whatever it was, we were very fortunate to find a donor at all… never mind someone like Tammy who was a perfect match, and who was so willing to give so much.

As we left the restaurant that night, I told (yelled at) every person we saw that “This woman saved my sister’s life.” I know it embarrassed Tammy, but it is the absolute truth… and it’s something not only to celebrate, but also aspire to. What if we ALL stepped up to the plate for someone we didn’t know? What if we were all willing to give of ourselves so that someone else may live? If you had the opportunity, would you?

VIDEO: How to register / get tested

Getting tested for bone marrow is easy… it literally just involves swabbing your cheek with a Q-Tip and it’s FREE (optional donation to cover costs accepted but not required). Here’s how to sign up:

http://www.dkmsamericas.org/category/marrow-donors/become-donor

You might never be a match, but if you are… wow, you’re in the position to save someone’s life!! You’re not donating a kidney or a lung now… so get that whole gory, life altering concept out of your head right off the bat. The act of bone marrow donation can take on one of two different forms, but 70% of all donations are taken in a procedure very similar to the simple act of donating blood. The cold hard truth though is that every year 35,000 people need a donor and only 3800 will find one. Bottom line: we need more people involved and you could be that one!

A great video that explains what the actual donation process is here:

Our lives are forever changed by Tammy’s gift. Her generosity has inspired so many… and I hope it inspires YOU and those around you. Thank you Tammy!!!

If you would like to thank Tammy for her donation in the comments section below, have at it!

If she inspires you to register, or get friends/family registered let us know… and by all means pass this blog post on!

A vision of caregiving: One Mother’s Journey

Published by brianwedge on April 29, 2008 in Photojournalism, Portraits, Uncategorized, inspiration and livestrong. 1 Comment

The following isn’t the most “fun” post I’ve made, but something that I’ve passed around privately to fellow caregivers, survivors and medical-types. The feedback has been that the images are important and responsible (they also won the Pulitzer Prize)… so with the warning that they are not pleasant, I hope you find that they might spark a moment of reflection and appreciation!

After a few weeks of sharing perspectives on everything from marathons to cancer through the medium of photography, I’ve had an overwhelming response from folks who have been touched by this concept of “Survivor” and “Caregiver.”

Survivors overcome obstacles like disease, hardship and challenge… and Caregivers are synonymous with medical technicians, providers and those that clean up the “messiness” of disease and hardship.

Since my sister was diagnosed with cancer I’ve shifted my definitions in very real and dramatic ways. First and foremost, I’ve learned that survivors sometimes don’t actually survive. I’ve met dozens of inspiring survivors who never fully overcome their diseases. ”Survivor” is not a label just for those who are victorious.

I’ve also learned that survivors include those family members and friends touched by the challenge of cancer… and those same Survivors are quite often the primary Caregivers.

It’s an incredibly difficult dual role to play. To have the discipline of an objective practitioner, while bearing the burden of anguish, sadness or just the “real life” stress of financial and logistical challenges is often overwhelming.

To add to our visual library of both Survivors and Caregivers, I’ve included an incredible collection from The Sacramento Bee’s photographer Renee Byer. Her photography chronicles the journey of one single mother caring for her son and his cancerous stomach tumor. The duality of the mother’s role is obvious… first Caregiver, Survivor and then back again. It’s an impossible task, and one that we can barely comprehend.

As trained medical professionals, documentary photojournalists and associate supporters of those on the front lines, it’s important to remember that who we focus on depends on the specific moment we engage them. Understanding the plurality of each character adds depth and complexity to every scene.

It’s an important subtlety that we all struggle to balance: we all know the importance of “instinct” and “anticipation” as caregivers and journalists… but these images remind me of how important it is to stay in the moment, assume nothing and to take every event for the uniqueness that it is.

With that said, Renee Byer does a fantastic job capturing one mother’s journey and challenges me to rethink some of the assumptions I make when encountering an “obvious” scene to be documented. With depth and sensitivity, Renee illuminates the fact that the Caregiver is also the Survivor… and the roles held by one person can shift without notice.

Here is the complete story including narrative… amazing stuff. (click NEXT to see each photo)

Survivor: Lea is cancer free

Published by brianwedge on April 25, 2008 in Brian Wedge Photography, Uncategorized, inspiration and livestrong. 2 Comments

Since publishing that last post about the Boston Marathon, so many people have emailed with their own thoughts on challenge, family and surviving. It obviously touches many many people in different ways.

One element of that story that was missing is the fact that my sister Lea is doing really really well. A few weeks ago she returned home from Seattle with the INCREDIBLE news that she was CANCER FREE!!!

Lea is getting stronger every day, though like all of us… some days are better then others. Her husband, Billy has been a rock of support in many ways. As caretaker, friend and provider he has worn many many hats. Yesterday was Billy’s birthday… so from all of us out here on the wrong coast: Happy Birthday Billy!!!