Lending a Heart

This was truly a wonderful "daily" assignment that I was handed. Melissa Vesselovsky has launched a cancer ministry to lend emotional and spiritual support to victims of cancer. Nina, pictured below, is battling aggressive ovarian cancer. She is 49.

An aspect that I loved of this story was the complete absence of religious boundries. Nina is not Catholic, and the entire program is run through the Catholic Diocese of Phoenix. Melissa does not come to preach, nor convert. She comes to hug, hold, and talk. They pray together, but only at Nina's request. This, I believe, is the true nature of religion.

I realize that many of these images look very similar (that's because a hospital room is very cramped and there are a limited amount of angles to shoot from). However, if you look through them, you will see that they each add a different dimension to the story. Some are sad, some are heartfelt, and some are funny. That's the way life is.

Cheers.

Melissa gives Nina a mock check-up. Nina is battling aggressive ovarian cancer, and Melissa's visits always put her in high spirts.

Nina grimaces as Melissa gives her a mock shot. Melissa's sense of humor as kept Nina's spirits up through many dark and difficult times while she has been battling her ovarian cancer.

Nina cries as she thanks Melissa for all of the love and support that she has shown her.

Melissa watches as Nina shares a heartfelt moment with her good friend. Nina will be receiving her first bout of chemotherapy Friday to fight her ovarian cancer.

Summer Arts Academy

The City of Phoenix Summer Arts Academy had their final dance show Wed. night. I've taught there for the last 5 years and it was so much fun to go back and see some of the kids, and how much they've grown.

Cheers.

For some reason, the thumbnail of this looks horrible. If you click on it to see the larger picture, it's much sharper.

The Revenants

Shot The Revenants Wed. night. Nothing portfolio worthy here, but just a few fun pics to put up. The music was wonderful- a mixture of Elvis and Johnny Cash, sort of that rockabilly blues. I really dug it. Cheers.

On Golden Pond

It was really beautiful and peaceful on the banks of Lakewood in Ahwatukee. I wish I could say I was a real go-getter and woke up early to shoot the sunrise today. But, the truth is that I really just stayed up all night.

Cheers.