It is always such an honour to document for Smiling Eyes – offering back to people journeying through cancer. It was great to meet with Bella and her family to celebrate her journey back to health! Here is Bella and her sweet smiling eyes…
Celebrating life and love,
Krista
I have known Dick and Cheryl’s family for years – they are such a sweet, fun, loving family. I recently heard that Dick was diagnosed with cancer and so I was more than happy to offer their family a Smiling Eyes session. I loved seeing the family laugh and enjoy each other’s company. They are such a strong family and so well loved – we will continue to keep them in our prayers as they face this fight ahead.
Celebrating life and love,
Krista
We have known the Cafazzo family for a few years – and every time we see them it seems they’re either pregnant or have a newborn. 
They are now up to six amazing kids – five boys and one girl!
Their fourth youngest – Danny – had a brain tumour a couple years ago. And recently it has come back. We did this photo session before his chemo started. Here is Jo-Anne’s (mom) update on his health:
“The latest MRI shows that the tumour is growing back. Our next course of action will be chemo starting in dec/jan. Folks have been asking why chemo. Has the tumour become cancerous? Isn’t chemo only for cancer? the answer to both is no. The tumour is still benign… and chemo is the next line of defense. The reason being, a brain tumour has to be handled with extreme care. Elsewhere in the body, surgerical resections (removals) involve taking a cusp of tissue around the tumour to be certain to get any roots/residual tumour. However, that can’t be done in the brain, and in particular for Danny because of the location of the tumour. It would be catastrophic. And here is where “benign” doesn’t always mean better. It’s incredibly complicated to deal with. He has had 2 surgeries already, which have not been able to completely get rid of this thing. The chemo is going to attack the cell reproduction of the tumour and kick its butt from growing any more. The type of tumour is slow growing (compared with cancer, which is fast), and so the journey will be slow as well. Danny will be at Mac every week for 50-60 weeks. We’re in for a long haul. But we know that God is with us. Every step of the way.”
Celebrating life and love,
Krista
Amber contacted me recently about doing her Oma’s Smiling Eyes session. Amber adores her Oma and it’s clear they have a special bond. Oma has battled cancer twice (colon, and then a few years later her liver and lungs) and then just recently they found out the cancer has grown. Oma has said “no more chemo” as her body did not handle it well and it reduced her quality of life. But what she has been able to do is live to enjoy her family, meet her new great grandchild and build memories. For her Smiling Eyes session, we met at their family home they built and have lived in for over 50 years. All but the newborn have lived in this home at some point as Oma opened her arms – and literally her doors – to welcome her family in when needed. It was great to return the favour to her now and offer her this gift. Her husband of 55 years, her daughters and their families all gathered to celebrate Oma.
Celebrating life and love,
Krista
This week I visited Miss K and her family in their beautiful home to capture her smiling eyes and some memories of their family together. I loved visiting with them and their young daughters – reminded me of the fun times we had when my own two girls were these ages. Lots of laughing, giggles and fun. Miss K’s strength, beauty and generosity is inspiring! An absolutely beautiful family to spend a morning with!
AFter all that behaving it was definitely time for cookies… and LOTS of sprinkles.
We always say in my family if you’re dirty it means you had fun… by the look on this face the girls had a lot of fun. And so did I!
Celebrating life and love,
Krista
I met Evelyn last week – and what a sweetheart! In August two year old Evelyn was diagnosed with leukemia but this has not kept her down. She is still a fun loving, sweet toddler who loves mom, dad, big sister Charlotte… and her stuffed lion! We enjoyed the last warm day of Fall down at the water.
She’s even kissable without her hat on!
The girls looking at all teh bravery beads – can’t believe how many she has collected just since August!
Celebrating life and love,
Krista
One thing I love about being a Smiling Eyes photographer, is we also donate time to Ronald McDonald House and Sick Kids hospital in Toronto. This last week I had the honour of going and documenting three families in Toronto.
First was a beautiful little girl who has just recently had a bone marrow transplant. SHe is 10 months old and has this beautiful slow smile that melts your heart! Her big sister is only 15months older than her – this family has their hands full! But lots of cuddles and love helps!
Next up was a stunning 18 year old girl who was celebrating her 3 week anniversary of her new lung that day! It is so amazing what can be done now with transplants! Her mom and her are so close – really beautiful to watch them together!
Next up was two three month old twins – they’re fraternal brotehrs but man! they look alike! One has a heart condition and is weaker – but still able to smile and coo and charm us all!
Celebrating life and love,
Krista
When I walk in to a child’s portrait session I usually put down the camera and let them get use to me before we begin. Desi was sitting down on the couch quietly, but before long this adorable 5 year old was telling me stories and drawing pictures of his favourite Marvel characters and making funny faces… and being a kid. He had me laughing and loving his little face in minutes!
When you’re with him it’s easy to forget that he has T-Cell ALL (Leukemia). And that’s how it should be… Desi is a little boy and his cancer doesn’t define him. Love that!
Celebrating life and love,
Krista
Sandra contacted me recently – I had documented her sister Darlene’s Smiling Eyes five years ago. Now, Sandra was beginning her own journey and had just started chemo therapy. It was great to see Sandra and the support of her family. The men in her life – her sons and husband – just adore her and they are such a tight group! So, on this beautiful Fall day we celebrated Sandra’s smiling eyes and the love of her family!
And the boys reaction to mom and dad cuddling. Some things don’t change.
Celebrating life and love,
Krista
I loved meeting up with Sophie and her parents recently to celebrate being done her treatments for her leukemia after 25months! Over two years of treatments… what a cause to celebrate! This session was done through SMiling Eyes – if you’re not familiar with them read more HERE!
I always love seeing the bravery beads – so incredible! Each bead shows something that the child has experienced – a treatment, hospital stay, needle… and the length of the beads can wrap around the child’s small body several times. What a great visual to show how incredible these little warriors have fought on their journey with cancer!
Celebrating life and love,
Krista