CRWStudio {st. louis based wedding and portrait photographer}

i recently had a super fun session that was a little bittersweet for me, as it was for my friend, i’m sure. for, you see, theri just recently found out she has breast cancer…for the second time. so, before she has surgery, before she undergoes another round of chemo, before she loses her hair, we got together to do a fun family session. cancer thoughts were put aside, at least for a little while, while we strolled down main street st. charles having fun and taking pictures.
jacob was a total ball of energy and played a little game of cat and mouse with me and my camera, hiding his face behind his hands at times.

while little zane was very relaxed and chill. just having fun with his family and the crazy chick behind the camera.

and of course there was miss brittany…helping corral the boys and being just as sweet as can be. she was kind enough to let me snap just a few of her alone before she headed off to work. such a great young lady she is!
i haven’t known theri too terribly long. in fact i just really met her this past year through st. louis mommies. physically, she’s the strongest, most in-shape person i know…she does teach strollerfit afterall, which yes, totally kicks my toushie. but she’s not just strong in the physical sense, she’s such a strong woman in so many other, less obvious ways. she’s already beat cancer once and i just know that with her strength and the love and support of her family and friends, she can do it again!!!

thank you, theri, for being such an inspiration to all of us and may you and yours do the happiest living of all!

rochelle

brendon’s smile third annual walk is now over but the beauty, courage and happiness of the young stroke survivors who were there, as well as their families, is still etched in my brain. it was such a wonderful day of celebration…celebrating the lives of these little survivors, celebrating the victories both small and large they’ve experienced and celebrating the awareness that brendon, jessica and stephen have been able to bring to the forefront.
the images i took that day are literally uploading while i type this, but in the meantime i thought i’d provide a little sneak peak. it was such a beautiful day, and really with such wonderful children playing, laughing, being… how could it not be.thank you brendon, jessica and stephen for allowing me to document such a special day.

happy living,
rochelle

that a baby can have a stroke in uterto? or, for that matter, that a child can? well, i didn’t either until several months ago and let me tell you… that little tidbit of info took me completely by surprise. well, i’m pleased as a pickle to announce that on sunday, september 13th from 9-11, i get to document an event that’s going to help bring childhood stroke to the forefront of the st. louis consciousness and beyond!

back in march while at a rehearsal dinner, i had the complete pleasure of meeting brendon (who suffered a stroke in utero) and his mom jessica. thanks to a shared love of photography, jessica and i hit it off immediately and chatted the whole night about cameras, lenses, photography and childhood strokes. i learned so much from her that night and have continued to learn from her. what a wonderful wealth of information jessica is…and a what a ray of sunshine brendon is. it has been a journey full of ups and downs for brendon, jessica and stephen (brendon’s daddy and jessica’s husband) but i’m sure i can safely speak for jessica and stephen when i say that brendon makes it all worthwhile.

just in the short amount of time i spent with him back on that march night, i can tell what a very special little boy he is, so full of life and joy and, like jessica has said, he has a smile that can light up a room. here’s an excerpt from their site (brendon’s smile) that explains more about childhood stroke and their experience with it.

“Our son Brendon was born a SURVIVOR and we are so blessed to have him in our lives.

Three days shy of Brendon turning 19 months of age he was diagnosed as having suffered a stroke while in utero (womb). As a result of the stroke he has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, Right Hemi-paresis, Muscular Scoliosis, and Speech Apraxia. Brendon currently wears braces on both feet and a splint on his right hand. At the age of two years Brendon was barely able to say a few words. He currently struggles with his inability to articulate what he is thinking and gets very frustrated with himself. He tries with everything he has to tell the people he loves what is on his mind. Brendon has a gorgeous smile and spirit that you can see by looking into his eyes. Through all of his frustration he manages to keep on smiling. Ask any one who knows him…he lights up a room. His spirit keeps us going!!”

childhood stroke is a very real issue and one that we all can so easily get behind just by attending the walk on sunday. please click here to find out how you can particpate!!!

happy living,

rochelle