One of the things I love most about owning my own business is that all decisions about what I do and don’t do with it, are mine. Most specifically when it comes to donations of time and photos. I go with my gut and I give when it feels right. I’ve learned, time and again, that when you give with your heart, you get back in more ways than you imagined. Funny how that works. And giving feels good. It’s contagious. In this particular instance, it wasn’t me doing the giving. I simply got to be a part of a beautiful gift friends came together to give to another. Kara was diagnosed with breast cancer a little more than a year ago. She caught it early and as a result, she was able to beat it. But not without undergoing a double mastectomy in the process. It was not comfortable. Often painful. But completely worth it.
A mother of two beautiful girls and the wife to one of the funniest guys I know, Kara has long been entrenched in her community, heavily involved with her girls, their school and their activities. She’s made lots of friends and if you met her, you’d know why. I met her through my brother and sister in law years ago and we’ve been friends since. And when Kara needed a boost and something to be excited about, her friends stepped in.
My sister in law, Courtney, reached out to me months before the surgery, telling me a large group of friends wanted to pool their money and buy Kara a family photo session with me, covering prints and products, as well. And did they ever. Photos that celebrate her family, her triumph over breast cancer, her support for the cause and of course, her new “hoots.” It was a fun, gorgeous afternoon, shooting at one of my favorite Maryland locations, capturing the laughs and beauty of some people I love dearly. It was awesome! So, thank you to all of Kara’s friends who allowed me this honor.
It was in their giving that I, and Kara’s family, received.
