"The Olivia Act is named after one of the children killed in Newtown. Olivia’s family had family pictures taken a short time before she was killed on that horrible day. Upon hearing about this, a photographer was moved to give away a family photo shoot and has challenged other photographers to do the same. I know that not all families have the resources to have photos taken and I'd love 2013 to be ...the year for one of them. I will be taking nominations for a family who you think would appreciate this timeless gift. The session will take place sometime after the new year into Spring. Email me your nominations at sarahelizabeth.photography22@g
This is the status that several photographers were posting just a few short days after the horrific shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Once the word of the Act got out, it spread like wildfire to photographers all over the United States, North America and before you know it even the whole world. Nominations were accepted until December 31st, 2012 at midnight. After that, I looked read through all those stories. Stories of all colors, each touching my heart in a different way. It was so hard to pick a family that is "more deserving" than another, and really I don't like putting it like that because all of the stories, every single one, seemed more than deserving. In the end, I went with the two stories that my heart was leaning to.
This morning I received word back from one of the two families that I had chosen as the recipients of The Olivia Act. The Eric Boyer Family. Words cannot describe how happy I am to have received several nominations for them. Samantha, Eric's wife, agreed to let me share their story with you.
The Eric Boyer Family
"Me & Eric have been together 9 years we just celebrated our 7 year wedding anniversary on December 1st. We have tried for a child for 8 1/2 years, I have miscarried 4 times. I have poly cystic ovarian syndrome so it was hard to conceive and every time we did I'd miscarry. In the spring we learned I was pregnant and already almost out of the 1st trimester we were so over joyed. Eric had been having a lot of tailbone pain & we had went to several different ER around here even St. Anthony's Eric traveled with his work. So it was hard to get in reg doctor never knew when or how long he'd b home. On October 16th he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer that had spread significantly to his liver dr was amazed. He was walking, let alone had been working( he said he had to work we had our baby girl on the way). Tumor in colon was 13 cm. I was 9 months pregnant. My due date was October 18, 2 days away. We were devastated( his mom passed away from colon cancer n 2007). We just knew god would heal him. We knew we had a hard road but not impossible. We have a lot of faith. We were released on the October 19th and he continued his radiation as out patient. On October 28th we were blessed with our beautiful angle Grace Mae. From day one he was so in love with her as she was him. Eric got a bacteria infection called c-diff ( it attacks the colon & bowel where his cancer was). Grace was now 3 weeks old and we had to leave her with my mom while he was n hospital I would never leave his side. His colon was very swelled from bacteria there was a lot of complications after 6 weeks he started to improve the dr said being home for holidays was very realistic goal. On December 20th his colon perforated from being so big for so long and they had to do surgery or it would have been fatal. The surgery was very high risk & with him there was a lot more risk due to his condition. Once again we knew god would give us a miracle. Surgery was done & Eric blood pressure had dropped & they couldn't get it stable. They told me he wouldn't make it threw the night. His BP started getting better so I just knew he would pull threw god wouldn't give us grace then take him from us. The next day his BP started dropping again & heart rate as well. I laid there beside him & told him I knew if he had a choice he wouldn't leave me & grace & I know how hard he had fought but it was ok I didn't want him n pain ( by that time he had slipped into a coma). Tears dropped from his eyes as I told him I loved him & then he was gone. I believe he was waiting for me to tell him it was ok to go. Dr said they didn't know how he made it threw the night. I had been telling him to find the strength to keep fighting b/c grace & I need him, but I couldn't b selfish anymore he was suffering & I didn't want that. He was the one true love of my life, my soulmate & best friend. We were never apart we did everything together. He was 33. I never imagined my life without him and with a 9 week old baby we tried so long for. It seems like my life has ended. On Christmas Day we had to take grace to ER & she was transferred to children's for the next 2 days. We spend her 1st Xmas without her daddy & in the hospital. I missed Eric visitation I know he would kick my butt if I would have left her. I know he is here with us in spirit and will watch over us. We were released on the day of his funeral. Financially we struggled he didn't have health insurance & he was our provider. If it would was not for the support of our family I don't know what I would do. There will not b a day or sec that goes by that my heart does not break especially for grace her dad was / is an amazing man so kind, generous, and loving. He would do anything for anyone. I tell her everyday how much her dad loves her & she is daddy's little princess and will do so everyday I am on this earth. I will never understand why god took him from us but I find comfort looking into grace's face she looks so much like him. I know one day we will b together again he will hold me tight, kiss me on the forehead like he always does tell me he love me & we will never have to let go of each other. He is my best friend and the one true love of my life. Nothing will ever be normal again & I don't know how to b without him. I know I will hold grace tight and find peace someday. I never wanted him to suffer but I never wanted to lose him. This has been a very bitter sweet time of my life. I cannot thank u for what u r doing telling our story & the photos."
- Samantha Boyer
No comments:
Post a Comment