“All of these lines across my face
Tell you the story of who I am
So many stories of where I’ve been
And how I got to where I am…”
- Brandi Carlisle, The Story

Our wrinkles, markings and scars define us. They tell of our history. Our stories. Whether sources of pride or memory, they are visible reminders of our past and our personal journeys.

Mackenzie is four years old. She has traveled farther than most of us will in a lifetime. She is a picture of adversity, beauty and hope. She is radiant. I hope she always sees herself as people who love her do–a miracle. Beautiful through and through.

She underwent an emergency liver transplant at 14 months old. This month, she will celebrate three years post-transplant. I had the honor of photographing her family in the fall as part of my commitment to the Give Ten Project — of capturing the unique bond her family shares. Her mother, my lovely friend Sarah, shares their story below:

What is significant about this month?
Mackenzie will be celebrating her three-year-transplantiversary on January 21st. It means so many things to us. Every time we get to celebrate it means we have had another year of life. The farther away from transplant means her chances for survival increase. Statistics usually go at 1 year, 3 year, 5 year and 10 year intervals. This is a big year because we will have made it one full year, for the first time since transplant, without Mackenzie rejecting her new liver. The more rejection episodes a transplant recipient has increases the likelihood of future rejection episodes. Her transplantiversary also gives us a chance to celebrate how normal our lives really are day to day. The Lord has really provided for us through out and the impact Mackenzie’s transplant has had on our every day life is minimal. And while we spend this day celebrating Mackenzie’s life we also remember that another family is mourning the death her their child.

Tell us about her teddy bear.
Her “Liver Bear” was a gift post-transplant from my sister in law’s mother. Her mother had the bear made at Build-a-bear, but didn’t close the back of the bear. When he arrived he came with a new pink liver that Mackenzie and I “transplanted” together, so Mackenzie would have a bear with a new liver, just like her.

Why did you want to capture images of Mackenzie’s scar?
I wanted images of Mackenzie’s scar because, for us, it means her life, literally. The older Mackenzie gets the more I worry about how it will affect her self-esteem. She received a full liver from a three year old and because she was just 14 months at the time they had to put in a piece of mesh fascia to close her abdominal wall (like for a hernia surgery) and that is why her belly protrudes around her scar. After we were released from the hospital her incision came apart at the center, which is why she’s has the triangle of scar tissue. When it separated there was nothing her surgeons could do, so we just had to keep it covered until it healed. She’s so young to have such a dramatic scar. And while it seems normal to us, it shocks strangers. Her friends and adults are curious and Mackenzie gladly talks about it. I want her to know the significance her scar holds and how beautiful it truly is.

How has her experience changed your family?
It changed everything. Mackenzie went from healthy to transplanted in 10 days. We’ve been through more than most families at this point. Mat and I had only been married less than three years when we were confronted with our first child’s mortality while I was 8.5 months pregnant with Kennedy. We quickly learned how to handle a crisis together we never thought imaginable. For our marriage it brought Mat and I closer to each other and in our relationship with Christ. I watched Mat put his own life at risk as he began to undergo a battery of tests in order to donate a portion of his liver. Mat stopped working so he could stay at home and care for Mackenzie and Kennedy. We worry about things a little differently. Mackenzie will forever have rely on a medicine to keep her alive, have a compromised immune system, a team of doctors in her life, and regular trips to the lab for blood tests. It’s also given us a new found appreciation for the normal day to day that we get to experience.

Mackenzie and Kennedy truly have an unspoken bond. Kennedy was born just four days after Georgetown gave us the go ahead to return to Hampton Roads. She was thrown into the chaos. Both girls have essentially grown up going to doctor’s appointments and to the lab for blood draws. They can sit and play “doctor” for HOURS. To them that is normal pretend play. I cried when I first saw the images because you captured their love for each other so well. They way they embrace each other and laugh together. Sometimes, its hard to know who’s the older sister as they are both so fiercely protective. When Mackenzie first rejected her new liver, around her one year anniversary, we ended up in the hospital for almost a week. Neither of them knew what to do without the other. When they were finally reunited the sat on the floor across from the other just staring and laughing. The joy they have with the other is overwhelming. It is my prayer that they always have this as they grow up.

How can we become organ donors or contribute to the cause?
Readers can learn more about Organ Donation and/or register to become an Organ Donor by visiting Donate Life America www.donatelife.net or the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) at http://www.unos.org/. They can also register to become an organ donor on their drivers license. Readers can make a donation to Donate Life America at http://donatelife.net/give-to-dla/ or if they are moved, they can join us in making donations to Georgetown at http://www.georgetownuniversityhospital.org/body.cfm?id=1324 and CHKD at https://www.chkd.org/Giving/Donate/

Organ Donation Statistics
112,657 Patients Waiting*
62,648 Multicultural Patients*
1,800 Pediatric Patients*
21,354 Organ Transplants Performed in 2011
10,558 Organ Donors in 2011
*as of January 2012

To read more about Mackenzie’s story, visit her personal blog at http://mackenzielemn.blogspot.com

” …a hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles. They are the real heroes, and so are the families and friends who have stood by them. ” Christopher Reeve

On Sunday I was blessed to spend time with a roomful of heroes–local military families of NICU babies. Their stories touched my heart and their faith, my soul. As a military spouse, I understand many of the challenges associated with service life. And as a new mother, I’ve experienced the joys and pains of parenting. But my children have never been hospitalized in the NICU. Their fingers have never been so tiny–or lives so fragile. And, I can’t begin fathom what the road these parents have traveled has been like.

It was an honor to listen to their stories of joy of sorrow and hope, and to witness their faithfulness and courage. We were brought together by an organization that offered support and encouragement by hosting the baby shower these families never had because their babies were born too sick or too soon. And, I left hopeful that I will be able to continue to serve many of these families in the upcoming months.

Operation Shower is a non-profit organization that recognizes and honors the sacrifices military families make by producing unit-wide baby showers and “showers in a box” for pregnant or expecting military families in a deployment or high stress situation. This weekend they partnered with the March of Dimes to shower families at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth with love and baby gifts.

The day was meticulously and lovingly planned–perfectly decorated, deliciously catered, generously sponsored and heartwarmingly programmed. Actress Wendy Davis, who plays the role of Lt. Colonel Joan Burton on the Lifetime Television show “Army Wives” emceed the event.

Other contributors included:

Celebrations at Home (one of the most talented party planners I’ve ever met!)
TomKat Designs (beautiful invitations + printables)
Kmart (generous gift donations)

Tune into the Today Show tomorrow 9/22 for a recap of the event and to learn more about Operation Shower. And, take a peek at the March of Dimes newsroom where some of the photos were featured.

after the first official post here (and the warm response) – my friend deb schwedhelm and i have officially launched the give ten project. here’s the post from our about us page posted today. we’d love for your to join the ranks — so stop in and say hello:

give ten: 10 percent of your time and profits to causes greater than yourself.

it’s a whisper to anyone who’s listening – starting with photographers around the globe. give ten. give it selflessly. give it joyfully. you *can* do it.  not sure where to start? how about by giving something? the links on the right are just a few starting points. give with your camera. give with your wallet. it’s simple, gratifying and freeing.

once you start, you’ll never work the same way again. so, stop just doing business — and start <strong>giving</strong> business.

are you with us?

“What goes around, comes around” sometimes seems like a fitting mantra for a boomerang family like mine–only we are what’s coming and going. We leave. We come back…and how grateful we are for that. When my husband Mike and I married we lived in Virginia Beach for three years. We were blessed to find Crosscurrent church when it was a fledgling church plant still meeting in the pastor’s living room. Connecting with this tiny group of people changed our lives in unimaginable ways. The church grew exponentially and Mike and Dalynn Rollins started attending just before we moved to San Diego. I didn’t get to know them very well, but I was in awe of her amazing baby belly — and how she glowed like no mama-to-be I had ever seen. One of my fondest memories of her is when I returned for a baby shower for my own son due later that year, Dalynn, (forever smiling, always uplifting) was there and was so thoughtful, she even brought a gift.

Our church friends had become family — and we kept in close touch over the next four years as we moved from place to place. We celebrated birthdays, births and marriages from afar, and occasionally during quick return trips for. I remember holding Liam a little closer the day I learned that Dalynn’s baby Cole was diagnosed with leukemia (acute lymphoblastic leukemia). Our boys were nearly the same age, and their lives had just changed forever. Cole had just turned two when he was diagnosed in 2007.

I’ve prayed for their family from afar over the last two years and kept up with their blog. Their amazing journey has been a living testimony of faith, perseverance and God’s grace. I am humbled simply by knowing them.

When we finally returned to the beach, I knew that I wanted to serve this family in some way…and beautiful Ava’s three-month portraits were the first opportunity. I’m not usually a fan of three-month sessions. Babies at this age are difficult to photograph. Typically, their expressions and movements are awkward. They can’t quite sit up and need help. But Ava has made me reconsider this age group altogether! If every one of my three month sessions looked like hers, I would shoot them round the clock. It helps that she has such a radiant mama who was an eager participant.You’ll see that Cole and his little brother Logan made some cameos too. The chaos as our kiddos played in the playroom while we worked on capturing Miss Ava was nothing short of hilarious.

Thank you Mike and Dalynn for allowing me to photograph your precious girl. I can’t wait to get my camera on your handsome young men next

Ava was all smiles (and a tad mini-me in the first one)

Dalynn still has her mama glow.

The happiest girl i know!

Her baby blues are amazing.

wide-eyed, beautiful girl.

She tuckered out for us. How can you resist those lashes?

Cole was monkeying around during the shoot.

But then, things got a  little more serious.

Logan made an appearance too. Cookie crumbs and all.

The Rollins’ series is part of lifeography’s “Give Ten Project” – the blog is just launching and more is coming soon.

all sold. thanks for looking:)

My beloved Nikon gear is for sale! (I switched to Canon in December) All are in excellent condition with original box unless otherwise noted. Price listed is asking price followed by BHphoto.com prices when I looked them up. Price includes shipping within continental US. **Please add 3% if paying by paypal.**

(SOLD)*17-55mm f2.8 zoom lens $900 ($1200 new) This was my rockstar lens — super versatile, great for toddler shoots, an ideal all-in-one lens. This baby is sharp and fast! I do not have original box or lens hood for this one though – there a few minor cosmetic scratches on the outside, but nothing at all that affects the glass/image quality. These are hard to find used and generally sell for $950-$1000 on the forums+shipping. Very similar to my Canon 24-70 on my 5D-pretty much the closest Nikon equivalent.

(SOLD)*85mm f1.8 $300 ($400 new at BH) – beautiful buttery bokeh and sharp! I loved it for outdoor portraits. Ideal for kids and seniors. It’s sturdy and a great pro lens.

(SOLD)*35mm f2.0 $225 ($320 new) – I loved this on my D200. Helped a ton for shooting newborns from above and indoors in small spaces when the 50mm was just too tight. Much more like the 50mm on my 5D b/c of the crop factor.

(SOLD)*Nikon SB800 speedlight $250 ($315 new) – I hardly used this at all since I’m a natural light photographer, but it was great to have in a pinch.

I can send photos or answer any questions upon request.