As of late, I’ve been posting about ways you can give back to the community: here and here. Jewels Photography posted on her blog that she was giving away a free session. All you had to do was to nominate someone and tell Jewels Photography why you admired them. The winner ended up being these two sisters. Be sure to read their e-mail to Jewels Photography below.

From Jewels Photography: I wanted to do something special for someone as my way of giving back. I posted on my blog and fb for someone to nominate someone that is special to them in their life and who they admire and the reason why. They were to email their picks and then I would choose the winner. I opened up this email and can still not read thru it without crying. I ended up picking these amazing women. Erin for the beautiful email and her sister Shannon for being the strong beautiful women that she is. In the end I was the one that ended up being blessed. The MUA came and did their make up and we had a blast shooting.

Here is the e-mail:

My sister Shannon has been the most inspirational person ever to grace my life and as I begin to write this line I have tears swelling my eyes. Every day I think about her struggle, where she began and where she is today, I also think about her future and how she will cope 5 years from now or 30. Shannon’s 2 year old son was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2006. It was a frightening time to say the least. But we were all filled with hope that he would beat it. There was nothing more we could be. Shannon lived the next 3 years in and out of the children’s hospital with Anthony. She was a single mom, raising 2 young boys. She lost everything tangible, but it was all worth it to be by Anthony’s side during this helpless time. Her life was turned upside down, filled with constant worry that something would go wrong. Dealing with the side effects of chemo, the needles, the medications, the blood transfusions, the spinal taps, the hair loss, the bruises, the weakness, the sadness, the loneliness of being a little boy stuck in a hospital room during Halloween or Christmas. It all just didn’t seem fair. Yet Shannon was so strong. She was so positive. She became a mecca of knowledge about the disease. She inspired people everywhere. But to our surprise, our sweet little Anthony became sicker. At 5 years old, he succumbed to the cancer. It was a devastating blow that words can never describe. I’m not sure it will ever make sense. 2010 was the most terrible year of our lives. But Shannon kept on. She went back to work, started saving money to buy a house, and continued raising her other sweet 8 year old son with grace and love. During all of this heartache, she did reconnect with a man who she went to high school with. They fell in love and he stuck by her through the darkest days. Now Shannon is expecting a baby boy. They both couldn’t be more thrilled. Although nothing will ever come close to filling the empty space in Shannon’s heart, she is beyond thrilled about the new miracle in her life. Every day is a challenge for us and especially for Shannon. Getting through the holidays was difficult. Answering her son’s questions about Anthony and hearing him cry every night is painful. I don’t know how she does it and I can’t imagine how she must feel each and every day. But I know that she is awesome and strong and an inspiration to many. Whenever I feel sad or bummed about something, I think of all that she has gone through and I know that I have it easy compared to what she has overcome. I am very lucky to have Shannon as my sister, her and Anthony have both touched my life in the deepest way and have made me see the world in a different light.

// By Jewels Photography // Follow on Facebook // Make Up By Monique //