Last Monday I posted a blog about a client and friend of ours that was undergoing breast cancer surgery.  She is 30.  Many of  you tried to email her and the emails came back.  I had the email address incorrect in the original post which has been corrected now.  Here it is again: beverlybarr2@gmail.com

Please take a second and email them both.  I kept every email, card, note and letter from my cancer journey and have them in a note book.  When I am having a challenging day - I still go to these for inspiration.  You really do not know how much a few seconds of your time will mean to them.  Even if it is simple five word email - "I am praying for you!" this will touch them and encourage them by knowing that hundreds of people - even strangers are pulling and praying for them.

Here is an update directly from her husband Dustin:  "Hey guys, we got the pathology report back from the hospital today - Overall I was pleased with the news.  First of all, the report confirmed that the cancer did not spread to the lymph nodes on either side.  So we’re definitely thankful for that.  We also learned that due to the size and the grade of the tumor, it is very likely that she’ll have to undergo Chemotherapy at some point in the near future.  We really won’t be certain about the treatment plan until we have our first appointment with the Oncologist. 
Bev needs to do some recovering before that happens though.  These past 4 days following her surgery have been tough on her, but she’s hanging in there.  She’s been woozy, light-headed, very sore and tender, and has had some bad headaches.  Hopefully over the weekend some of these symptoms will start fading away and she’ll also start eating more. 
Also, I know it’s always an awkward situation when someone’s in bad shape and you think, "If i visit them, i’ll be a burden, but if I don’t visit them, they’ll think i’m a bad friend."  So I’ll make it easy for you (at least for the next few days) - give Bev some air until i send out an email giving you the ok that she’s up for visitors.  It means a lot whenever anyone offers to sacrifice their time and come over, but right now she needs uninterrupted rest all day every day until she gets better.
Finally, even though she’s had to give the computer a break for a couple of days because reading worsened her symptoms, Bev has not been deterred from enjoying all of her email and regular mail and all the other cool stuff that’s being sent.  So thanks again, all of you."  Her email again is: beverlybarr2@gmail.com

Seven years ago today- mine and DeWayne’s world turned upside down and inside out.  God gave us the most incredibly precious gift any one could ever ask for - a terrific & beautiful little girl.  After a 12 year journey, with lots of ups and downs - she arrived.  Many of you had told me that there was no way that I could understand love until I experienced parenthood.  Nothing has ever been more true.  Edie Grace has become our world.  She has been my creative rebirth in so many ways.

Most of you know  our story - but after a 12 year struggle to have a child - I learned when she was only 14 months old that I had cervical cancer.  In fact, I had my first surgery on my 33rd birthday.  I breast fed Edie Grace for the last time the night prior to my surgery.

This was an epiphany to me, however.  If I did not make it through the surgery or survive the cancer - I realized that the ONLY way Edie Grace would know me was through pictures.  She would have no cognitive memory other than pictures.

How ironic - the gift I give to parents every day - is the ONLY way my child would know me - had I not survived.  Well God had another plan for me.  He knew that many of you needed to hear my story and to have your story told through the lens of my camera.  Every portrait I create is special - but none are more special than the ones I have created since this spiritual and creative rebirth.  I understand the incredible importance of my job in a way I had never understood before the arrival of Edie Grace and the survivorship of cancer.

When I speak around the country - sharing my story I end my speech with a slide show.  It is our story through pictures and it is set to one of my favorite songs by Tim Mcgraw “Live Like You Were Dying” which is my challenge to each of you.  Life really takes on a whole new meaning when you do this.

Happy Birthday Edie Grace and thanks for adding the value and meaning to my life that it needed.  You have inspired me to work harder and stretch my creative abilities in ways that seemed unimaginable.  All that in just SEVEN years!

I Love you!

Mom

p.s.  You are soooooo beautiful!!!

A few days ago I shared a slide show featuring Stefanie and Sean Reeder of Savannah.  The slide show was an example of the importance of documenting artistically this important first year.   Their story was featured as one of our Your Portrait, Your Story features on my blog.  Anne Hart, of the Savannah Morning News, read their story on the blog and sought them out.  This Easter Sunday she featured their story.  Click here to read the story.  In addtion to writing for the Savannah Morning News, Anne is also the founder and publisher of Southern Mama’s website.  It is one of my favorite sites and you can find it in my favorites list.  Please check it out if you have not already discovered it.

Here is Anne’s story:

Hart to Heart: When a miscarriage is prevented

Anne Hart | Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 12:30 am

The pregnancy wasn’t supposed to last. At least, that’s what the medical tests showed.

Stefanie and Sean Reeder of Savannah had planned for children for so long. Now they were being told Stefanie would most likely miscarriage in a few days.

Stefanie and Sean had their children’s names picked out since they were high school sweethearts in a small Kentucky town. Grant for a boy. Molly for a girl.

On trips, the couple bought children’s books in lieu of traditional souvenirs, even though they didn’t have children yet.

But becoming parents turned out to be more difficult than expected. Stefanie has a thyroid disorder and gene mutation that made getting pregnant a challenge.

A memorable announcement

Month after month, she had negative home pregnancy tests. After she finally got a positive one, she was so thrilled she took a picture of it.

Stefanie managed to hide her exuberance from Sean for two days. She wanted a memorable way to announce the news.

The couple already had a photo appointment set up with photographer Lori Grice. Stefanie and Lori conspired together to capture the “I’m pregnant” moment.

While Lori shot portraits of the couple, Stefanie pulled Sean’s arms around her. Stefanie told her husband “Put your hands on the baby.”

He was stunned. “Whose baby?” “Our baby,” Stefanie said.

That moment came to mind a few days later as Stefanie and Sean were told the pregnancy most likely would not last.

Medical and divine intervention

Stefanie said Dr. Lawrence Odom was sympathetic as he explained that the pregnancy hormone HCG was not increasing as it should.

Miscarriages are often seen as the body’s way of ending an unhealthy pregnancy. Fetal chromosome abnormalities account for about half of all miscarriages.

But what about the other half?

Odom heads a program - called pregnancy loss evaluation and prevention at St. Joseph’s/Candler Telfair Reproductive Center - that specializes in preventing “preventable” miscarriages.

The program’s goal is not to prevent miscarriages that are the result of chromosomal abnormalities, but those that could, with some medical intervention, have resulted in healthy babies.

Stefanie had started going to Odom, a reproductive endocrinologist, because of the difficulties she had becoming pregnant. She believes divine guidance led her to his specialized practice since the threat of miscarriage turned out to be more of a problem.

Stefanie recalls asking Odom what the chances were the pregnancy would continue. He sadly held up his hand, indicating maybe five pregnancies with hormone levels like hers had been successful in his 20 or so years of practice.

Even Stefanie’s medical paperwork didn’t give much hope. It was filled out to indicate the most likely outcome: “spontaneous abortion” the medical term for miscarriage.

Odom advised the Reeders to cancel their travel plans that weekend and told them the signs of a miscarriage. He also told the Reeders he would pray for them. They asked loved ones to do the same.

That night Stefanie did what she had done since finding out she was pregnant. She read “Goodnight Moon” aloud to her unborn baby.

Sean put his hand on Stefanie’s belly and prayed.

“We decided this is our baby as long as he’s with us,” Stefanie said.

Stefanie and Sean knew that medically speaking, their baby didn’t have much chance. But they hoped God had other plans.

Turned out, He did.

After several days, Stefanie still had not miscarried.

Her blood work was checked again. Her pregnancy hormones had increased dramatically. There were still complications, including a small gestational sac indicating that the fetus wasn’t getting enough blood. It wasn’t growing.

That’s where Odom’s medical intervention helped. Two-daily shots of the blood thinner Heparin until 36 weeks, HCG hormone shots twice a week for five months and progesterone suppositories helped the pregnancy continue.

On May 30, 2006, the baby who wasn’t expected to make it was born.

The wonder boy

At the Reeders’ church, Grant, now 1, is known as the Wonder Baby.  His loved ones credit Grant’s life to a mix of faith and science.

“A little bit of intervention and a whole lot of prayer, and there he is,” Stefanie said.

Grant is living proof of Odom’s belief that some miscarriages are preventable.

“Nobody with a genetically OK baby should suffer a miscarriage,” Odom said.

At the Reeder home, photo albums and framed portraits chronicle Grant’s life. But the most important photo hangs just outside the nursery door.

It’s of the exact moment when Grant’s mommy told his daddy “Put your hands on the baby.”

It’s of the exact moment his parents knew they’d hold onto him and never let go.

Contact Anne Hart at anne@southernmamas.com. Go to her Web site for parents at www.southernmamas.com

My first Strasburg Children Savannah session in Forsyth Park this week was with an adorable and very special little guy.  I have photographed his parents since they arrived in Savannah just after they were married.  They had a long journey working with Savannah fertility specialist Dr. Lawrence Odom to bring their special little boy into the world.  Read their story on my blog here.  

Easter Sunday Ann Hart wrote a wonderful story about Stefanie and Sean.  Read it here.

I have put together a slide show from their sessions throughout the baby’s first year and beyond.  Yes - mom shared the news with dad that they were expecting in my studio.  It remain’s one of the most emotional and special sessions I have photographed.

If your expecting or already have a precious baby - contact us today and learn about the Lori Grice difference in documenting this incredible first year in a creative and artistic way.  Few images will be more special than your expecting images and your baby’s first year.

By: Jennifer Woodward - Statesboro

We were expecting triplets, and we couldn?t have been more excited. We had wanted children for so long. Unfortunately, it was not an easy pregnancy or delivery. I received several blood transfusions and amniotic fluid reductions in the hospital before the babies were delivered. I was on bed rest for four weeks in the hospital, and then my doctor decided I couldn?t carry the babies any further. I had fluid on my heart and lungs and was having difficulty breathing. At 27 weeks gestation on February 24, 2004, Elana, Grayson, and Emily were born by cesarean section at University Hospital. During the delivery, I lost a lot of blood due to the deep implantation of one of the placentas. I received many units of donated blood during the surgery and more blood and plasma in the Intensive Care Unit after delivery. Everyone was worried that I would not make it out of intensive care to see the babies that we had wanted for so long. After many, many prayers, I finally got off the ventilator and was able to see my children for the first time. They were 1 week old at that point.

At just over two pounds each, Elana, Grayson, and Emily had fights of their own after they were delivered. They each proved up to the challenge. They fought past heart and lung problems, infection, sickness, and surgeries. While fighting these battles, each of them received units of donated blood to keep them going. Four months after they were born, they were all home for the first time. They have had some ups and downs since then, but three years later they are three happy and healthy children. Seeing them in this photo makes it very hard to believe that they were every that small and fragile. What a blessing it will be to look at this portrait in our home and remember how far they have come and how much God has blessed our family. I have also included pictures of them from the NICU at University Hospital right after they were born. You can see from these how truly precious this new photo is to us now.

Lori has graciously allowed the Shepeard Community Blood Center in Augusta, GA, to use this photo in some of their literature. One blood donation can save up to 3 lives. We are living proof of that fact. We are so grateful for all those people who donated blood for us. Without their generosity, we would not be where we are today. Please donate blood regularly; it truly is the gift of life.

By:  Susan Allan - Statesboro

As I look back on the last nine years we have lived in Statesboro I see the threads of these years that have been woven into our lives, creating lasting memories ….
As I look around my house at the photographs that represents the days of our lives Lori Grice Photography has captured those days  of these special years that our woven into the fabric of our memory. 
I see memories of happy days of the final summers of high school - the senior portraits of both my girls capture their youth, their varied interests of high school days,  the hopes and dreams of their future.  From the casual poses in the ourdoors, to the poses representing memories of band concerts, leading the band in football half time shows for April and a treasure chest of ballet costumes for Ashley to the serious formal poses that remind us of the beautiful young women they have become - we treasure each thread of the tapestry.
Amidst the happy memories are the pictures of four best friends, reminding us that woven into the tapestry of life, yes, even young life, is sadness, tragic losses, mountains to be climbed.  These pictures capture the importance of friends as one of the four faces the pain, the fears, the uncertainties of cancer and reminds us of the miracle of good health on the other side of illness. We treasure the tapestry of friends in our daughters lives.
The generations are represented around our home through LGP of my parents as we announced the joy of their 5oth wedding anniversary.  A picture representing the blessings of family, the shared joys of the generations,the celebration of half a century of marriage!
Even our professional lives are captured by LGP through our official staff photographs at First Baptist Church.  Even the blessing of being able to connect our lives with those of our First Baptist Family has been made possible through the photography that introduces our staff to newcomers through our staff photographs. 
As the threads of the tapestry continue to be woven, we cherish the pictures of the new love of a new generation.  The engagement pictures of April and Eric represent the beginning of a new journey, the promise of many years together of shared love of yet another generation.  The cherished bridal portrait hangs in our home, a reminder of yet another passage of time, another family tapestry in it’s beginning stages with so many threads yet to be woven into the tapestry of love. 
Yes, Lori Grice Photography has truly enriched our lives through friendship and the capturing of the memories of our lives in this past decade.  We are grateful for these portraits that represent the tapestry of our lives and help us to remember in the days to come as God continues to weave the tapestry of his choosing in our lives.  

By: Michelle Meyers Smeltzer - Savannah

Three summers ago, Lori created a beautiful beach portrait at Tybee that touched our families lives.  In this special portrait taken of us you see such a wonderful loving Mother and Father/Husband and Wife/Daughter and Son/Grandmother (MeMe) and Grandfather (Papa) .

Just last August, that same portrait that has brought so much joy to all of us was displayed at my Father’s funeral on August 12, 2007.  Dad’s death was a tragic loss which has devastated us but thanks to Lori we have an incredible portrait that reminds us daily of his special love for each of us.  The love, creativity and beauty captured by Lori in this portrait speaks for itself.  Upon Dad’s death, one of my first calls was to Lori who so kindly forwarded a gift size copy of our cherished portrait to be placed in his casket so that it would be sent to heaven with him.  I could not have ever asked for anything more special to me than the portrait of my Mom and Dad captured by Lori and the love that is shown. Thank you for Lori for allowing me to share how special this portrait is as words can’t even begin to describe how dear it is to me.

Thank You,
Michelle

By: Randy and Linda Powell-Jones - Statesboro

Linda and I would like to thank you Lori for one of the most memorable experiences we have ever shared together; visiting your studio and working with you, DeWayne and your staff.  What a wonderful time we had!  Discussing your art, developing our idea of what we wanted in our portraits and then watching the synthesis of our dreams and your talent generate a wonderful collaboration of creative energy in your organization was both marvelous and fascinating!  What fun and joy!

Lori, your designation as “Master Photographer” not only sets you apart far and above other photographers, I believe it is recognition of the quality of work that you and your studio are producing; it is recognition that you have not only honed the technical complexities of your profession but have also mastered the ability to create a “Work of Art.”

Your ability to take an ordinary Joe like me and see how best to photographically define and accentuate the characteristics that are my best is well - I am grateful! (I never looked better!)  You are indeed a “Master Photographer!”  And Linda, in my opinion is the most beautiful woman.  You have captured her beauty and made it timeless.  Thanks again.  The portrait of our granddaughter Jenna is perfect also.  Now she brings a lot to a photographic session, (including a 2 year old’s boundless energy).  Your patience and remarkable abilities again “came to the fore,” her portrait is treasured; thank you three times more!

Lori Grice and Company, you have all given Linda, our family and me a very special gift, talent and a special kindness.  We appreciate all that you have done for us.  The business portion of our experience together was efficient and satisfying.  To anyone wanting to work with you I would commend them to your professionalism and courtesy and ability to immediately make a customer feel at ease.  These are all qualities that are not physically seen but do positively affect the “bottom line.”  In a way each of the Lori Grice employees are also “Masters.”

As I finish this letter I once again look at our portrait.  We never looked better!  We are in love and it shows!  Our hobby is ballroom dancing and that passion too is captured in our pose.  Although I was not called for duty in Iraq, at the time we were in your studio, I was awaiting orders and was expected to be “out of the country” very soon.  That “tension” between a soldier and his wife and the volumes it speaks within our portrait is also evidence of your skill as a “Master photographer.”

Linda and I hope to continue our relationship with you and DeWayne.  We enjoyed our brief time together and look forward to the time when we all get to meet again.  I hope I haven’t worn these words out - Thank You!

Randy and Linda Powell-Jones

By: Lisa Oliver - Claxton

In the last 4 1/2 years I have learned how special portraits can be, and thanks to Lori the portraits themselves are special.  On December 10, 2002 my 10 year old son Clay was killed in an auto accident.  Lori remembered creating portraits of Clay when he was a baby and got in touch with me.  She went through all her old portraits and found every image that Clay was in and gave these to me.  Lori and DeWayne then asked me to pick out my favorite image and they had a portrait made and framed for me as a gift.  I can not express how special the portrait is.  It hangs over my mantle, and is my most prized possession.    On April 21, 2006 my husband Paul was killed in an auto accident, and I immediately looked for the portraits that Lori had made of our family.  When you loose a loved one, every photo is like a treasure.  Portraits bring back all the happy memories of time spent together.  Thanks Lori, when I miss Paul and Clay, I can just look at your portraits and I feel the connection with them again.

Forever grateful,

Lisa

By: Avis Coleman - Savannah

This portrait of my child and me has a special place in my heart. It?s the only one I ever had done of me with one of my children. At about 20 ?22 months, I took each of them to Lori Grice Studios for their portrait in their matching green linen outfits. It was always stressful trying to get my little darlings to cooperate but the results were always incredible and well worth the effort.

When Lori asked me if I wanted to take one with Grace while I was there for her turn in front of the camera, I don?t know why I did, but I said ?yes? and I?m thrilled that I did.

I said yes another time in my life, and that time it was to God. That is why this wonderful, beautiful child is in my life and I will be forever grateful.

I was 42 years old, in the throes of my third painful, difficult pregnancy and was facing the struggles of raising four children (the first set are twins) under the age of three with a husband whose job kept him away from home more than either of us would like. In my eighth month, I signed the papers to have my tubes tied, justifying my decision based on many factors ? my advancing age, the dangers associated with so many C-Sections, and of course, the four young children who needed so much attention and care.

I had converted to Catholicism after visiting with husband for several years, but still didn?t quite understand the birth control issue. Surely God would understand with all these children and all the risks I faced at my age, that I might chose to prevent any more.

I was wrong and I thank God every day that some voice tugging at my heart convinced me to talk to someone about my decision. Father Tim McKeown was a fairly new parish priest and had only been at our church a few months but he was available and willing to talk to anyone about Catholic beliefs and the will and purpose of our Heavenly Father. Again, I expected full dispensation for what I was about to do, but it wasn?t coming from this staunchly faithful, dedicated young priest.

He explained to me that our bodies are pallets that God uses to create his masterpieces. Father Tim asked me how I would feel if I learned that I could have created the person who could bring about world peace or cure Aids. What if I prevented from coming into this world the child that was supposed to take care of my husband and me in our advancing years? He was so spiritual and so faithful to the Word of God, I understood for the first time why our faith is so strongly against chemical or surgical birth control techniques.

Rubbing my huge, kicking tummy, I wanted to follow that faith, but still thought it might be nice to stop with this one if that was God?s plan for my life. Father Tim sent me home with literature and a cassette to learn about the church?s only approved form of control which is Natural Family Planning. This system calls for counting the days, watching temperature changes, and a few other measures.

Brendan, Coleman baby number 4, was born three weeks later and my astonished obstetrician left my reproductive system intact, though shaking his head at my change of heart.

My husband and I had no trouble following the Natural Family Planning protocol and were very successful!

For five months.

In October 2002, we learned that our fifth child was on the way. We wondered how this could happen! We were so careful from days 11 through 19 like we were supposed to be. But the very precise ultrasound we had during those first few weeks clearly showed that the baby was conceived on an unheard-of day 23!

While we didn?t look forward to all the shots, the back pain, and the epidural, we were overjoyed at the thought of yet another baby. How could we have ever thought we didn?t need any more?

Our joy multiplied exponentially when our 20 week ultrasound revealed that this miracle baby was another girl. I was finally giving my older daughter, Addie, the one gift in life that I never had ? a sister! We couldn?t believe our luck and thanked God every day for our fifth blessing and prayed that she would be healthy and strong like her four older siblings.

We named her Mary Grace Coleman ? Mary after her wonderful grandmother who had died four years before, and Grace because we truly felt the ?Grace? of God was responsible for this incredible miracle.

John and I say at least once a week how very, very blessed we are to have these five incredible, beautiful children. And we laugh hysterically at all their antics, but especially Grace?s. She has a hilarious personality and a charm that amazes everyone who meets her. I know God sent me to see Father Tim and I know that she is here for a reason. We don?t know what she will do with her life when she grows up, but all of us know that she is special. She is a precious addition to our life and she is here because of God?s glorious and amazing Grace.