Sian | Cancer Personal Project

I am so happy that I can do this post on Mother’s Day!

Back in January, I did a blog post to start a perosnal project, offering lifestyle portrait sessions to people and their loved ones who have been affected by cancer in their lives.

I have the best clients, because after shooting an engagement session for two of my amazing wedding clients, they found this blog post and connected me with Cancer Care Point, a foundation offering support and services to individuals and families with cancer. That same week that I was introduced to Cancer Care Point, they had received wonderful news from three different famililies, all on the same day, that their treatments had been successful and that each individual’s scans were looking better than ever before, unexpectedly. Pam at CCP introduced me to Sian, and I could tell from her first email that she was a very special person.

Sian was diagnosed with stage 1 colon cancer in February of 2011. After having surgery, she found out that it was in fact stage 3 rectal cancer. After radiation, chemo, and a long list of complications she had a short 6 months in remission, until a scan showed that the cancer had spread to her liver. She had been on chemotherapy every two weeks since then, but just last month she received news that the tumors had nearly disappeared suddenly. She recently received news that she could undergo surgery to remove the last of the tumors in her liver, which meant the news that she would have no more chemo needed. With a sudden change in prognosis and treatment plan, Sian and her family met the news with joy.

We planned a date, and headed to the family’s favorite beach- Manresa Beach in Watsonville-where they have had many happy memories of perfect days enjoying the sun, finding sand dollars, and playing in the sand.

But beyond her history with cancer, Sian is not only an inspiring, positive, strong woman, but her beauty and positive, gentle attitude radiate from inside. Sian loves to read, and is an elementary teacher hoping to return to substituting in time. Nick, Beth, Evie, and Daniel thank you so much for sharing your mom with me for the day. It is clear when you spend a few hours with Sian, that she is so very loved, that she has raised a beautiful family, and is an amazing woman- with or without her battle with cancer.