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December 12, 2005
For Always
(All Images © Jed Share 2005)
This past weekend I was truly blessed. I had the honor of spending time with a group of delightful kids who are suffering from childhood cancer. (See above) It was one of the most memorable weekends I have ever experienced.
The strength, faith, hope and love flowing from the families of these children is unbelievable. I honestly don’t know if I could ever handle what these families are going through myself. Their steadfast hope and resolve is unbelievable.
I was with these families to take photographs for a book and a television piece we (the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation) are doing to gather national and international support for children in treatment, survivors and the families of those who have passed away from cancer.
During the weekend I spent most of my time on the floor of the National Children’s Hospital doing my job as the Doctor of Mischief. My task was to make the kids feel at ease so we could capture their personalities on film. I wrestled on the floor with little kids with cue ball heads. I joked and shared incredible stories with an amazing teenager from Bulgaria. I made an idiot of myself trying to distract kids from the camera and that awful cancer shadow that stalks them twenty-four hours a day.
My friend Jed Share (a world class photographer) Ruth Hoffman (Executive Director of the Candlelighters) and myself (world class buffoon) cried and laughed the whole weekend. I cannot tell you how full my heart feels after celebrating life with these kids and capturing their courage and hope on film.
Jed Share is a much sought after photographer and has shot pictures in 80 different countries. Some of his work has appeared in the National Geographic. I want to thank him, not only for volunteering his valuable time for this project, but for taking the time between his portraits to snap the above pictures. I drove Jed nuts every five minutes asking him for photographs of me with the children. I wanted pictures because I never want to forget my time with these great little people. I will post some of Jed’s powerful, haunting and stunning images of the kids once he has edited them.
We spent three days taking hundreds and hundreds of pictures and then on Saturday night we all joined together in the old Post Office in Washington D.C. to light the incredible Candlelighters Christmas Tree. The tree was adorned with thousands of gold ribbons to support kids in treatment, honor those who are no longer with us and celebrate the precious lives of those who have survived childhood cancer.
After the tree lighting I had a real hard time saying goodbye to my new friends, especially to a little four year-old chap named Alex. We really bonded and I had a huge lump in my throat when I saw Alex’s bald little head hang in sadness when he said goodbye to me.
“Can you be my friend for always?” he said when I hugged him goodbye.
“Yes, Alex,” I whispered in his ear. “For always.”
Posted by trevor at December 12, 2005 10:18 PM
Comments
Hi Trevor,
So glad you are back and also glad that you could go to the tree lighting. There is a ribbon on the tree for my dear son, Jason. Thank you so much for caring. We never dreamed that cancer would invade our lives and take our strong, athletic son. But it did and he has been gone for 3 months now.
Posted by: Pam at December 13, 2005 12:01 AM
How can we use our time? Each of us are different, yet I know for me, the time, the effort, the passion could not have had a better focus than these kids.
The images speak for themselves, I feel so privileged and appreciative to be able to honor their strength and inner beauty-their smiles make me want to laugh and cry at the same time.
- Jed Share
Posted by: Jed Share at December 13, 2005 01:44 AM
The smiles are so beautiful they bring tears to my eyes. Oh, I see Jed said something similar.
Posted by: Deb at December 13, 2005 08:38 AM
Thank you.
Posted by: Alice-Anne Nix at December 13, 2005 09:10 AM
I never realized that Santa was a skinny guy from South Africa. May God Bless you Trevor as you have been a blessing to so many.
Posted by: Brian at December 13, 2005 01:34 PM
when will Tylor's book be out? keep up the great work, you are an inspiration to everyone...
Posted by: one who is wondering at December 14, 2005 01:14 PM
You must feel like the richest guy in the world some days. And you are. God bless you, Trevor.
Posted by: Omnibus Driver at December 14, 2005 03:22 PM
Wow!! These little bald heads bring back a lot of memories. The smiles on their faces says it all, they may be sick but thay are so full of love and life. Thank you so much Trevor for being there for these children. Friendship means a lot to them.
Posted by: denise rizor at December 15, 2005 04:42 PM
Hi. I was at the tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 10. I heard you speak and my family and I got a kick out of your "Duhs".
My son is 6 years old and just finished 3 1/2 years of treatment for ALL in July. He is now almost 6 months off treatment but we so remember the times in the hospital. Hearing what you do in the hospital to keep these precious children's spirits up was heartwarming. There were so many times Connor could have used your tactics.
Anyway, thank you for sharing yourself with families like mine. If you get a chance check out Connor's website.
Amy
Mom to Connor(our miracle survivor), Cameron, and Kyla Marie.
Posted by: Amy Muston at December 19, 2005 10:25 AM
I adore these pictures. Thanks for sharing.
Happy CHristmas.
Amanda
Posted by: Amanda Gurney at December 20, 2005 06:01 PM
I cannot express my emotions as I looked at the pictures of these wonderful, loving and strong children. Although, I have yet to meet the little Alex you spoke of and were photographed with, he is the grandson of my best friend. As as cancer survivor myself, and an adult, the spirt, love, and strength of these children is mind blowing to me. Thank you for being there for these children. Bless you. My prayers are with all these children, and you.
Posted by: Pam Ayer King at December 26, 2005 07:25 PM
Alex is my cousin's son...our whole extended family have hearts and faith as huge as...well there is no word to describe how huge!!! Having recently completed radiation treatments, Alex had a wonderful christmas with his family and friends. He is scheduled for an MRI on Jan 6. Keep him in your prayers. Alex is such a joy to us(his family) and now you too know how much love the little guy's heart holds...
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