Mom and her Daughters: Magic Memories Unveiled
In the fall of 2022, I came across the story of a local mom battling cancer. She lived in my town, and her daughters were close in age to mine. As I read about her struggle and learned about her prognosis, a deep sense of sadness came over me. The idea of those young girls losing their mom within the year weighed heavily on my heart.
It dawned on me – what if those girls had a keepsake, a photo book encapsulating their cherished moments with their mom? I remembered a quote, “Photos are our memories frozen in time,” and I strongly believed in the power of photos to help us remember, cope, and heal. However, my own doubts and insecurities held me back from reaching out to this family.
“Photos are our memories frozen in time.”
Months passed, and a colleague from a networking group approached me for help. His sister-in-law was battling Stage IV cancer and he wanted his nieces to have a lasting memory of their mom. I realized at that moment that this was the same mom I had read about earlier in the year and felt honored to be entrusted with creating this book.
I quickly got to work as I knew we didn’t have a lot of time on our hands. I curated a collection from the mom’s iPhone photo library, carefully selecting over 500 images that were “book worthy”. Through numerous exchanges, adding captions, and incorporating more photos from her best friend, the 128-page book took shape and was sent out for printing.
I was on pins and needles anxiously awaiting the delivery of the book. Shipped from overseas, the production, shipping and possible customs delays had me on edge like never before. I worked with the vendor to expedite the process as my hope was to have the book delivered in time for mom to share it with her daughters.
Sadly, the day the book arrived was also the day she passed away.
Despite my sadness that she didn’t get to see her book or experience viewing it with her girls, I had an overwhelming sense of fulfillment. This experience reinforced a valuable lesson: the importance of preserving memories through photo books, not only for those facing adversity but for everyone who cherishes the moments that make life meaningful.
We shouldn't wait for a crisis to act on our intentions. Creating these keepsakes stems from love and foresight, not obligation.
Despite questioning myself at the beginning, creating this book was one of the best gifts I could have given these girls. And, it serves as a stark reminder that we shouldn't wait for a crisis to act on our intentions. Documenting these memories is a heartfelt tribute to the past, a celebration of the present, and a cherished legacy for the future.
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