A Special “Back to School” Personal Post…

Aug 31, 2013

Back to School for the Crew Girls

Back to School Portraits 2013

Back to School! Already?

I often hear my clients say “Oh you must have so many photos of your daughters, being a photographer and all”. I do! I rarely share my sweet girls on my business pages, but every year, I do share my daughter’s “Back to School” photos… this time, and with a total joy and pride, I am able to share both of my daughters’ Back to School portraits…

This year marks a huge milestone for the Crew household. Not only is my beautiful, creative and loving Ava going into 3rd grade, but my youngest daughter, Emma, will be starting kindergarten. Doesn’t sound like a huge deal – just another kiddo heading to school, right?

Well, it is a big deal.

It’s a really big deal.

Let me explain…

In September of 2009, my sweet Emma of only 13 months suffered a traumatic brain injury. She fell victim to Shaken Baby Syndrome. To call Emma a ‘survivor’ is not enough. She is a fighter. She is strong. She has defied all odds. She is amazing.

Why is this Back to School post so special to me? Well, almost four years ago, after waking from a 19 day coma, she had lost the most basic of skills. She could no longer nurse, sit, crawl, speak. We did not know if she was blind, deaf, or that she could even recognize us. 5 surgeries, a prosthetic skull piece, massive brain damage and almost 2 month hospital stay, we didn’t expect THIS day to come. We were told that when and IF she would wake up, she would not be the same little girl anymore. She would be ‘special’. Well yes, she is incredibly special. Incredibly.

Today, some of the resulting damage from her brain injury include: a weak right hand and fingers, loss of her peripheral vision on the right side, hearing loss. It doesn’t stop her. She is stronger because of it. Will there be setbacks or roadblocks in the future? We don’t know, but she’s off to a great start.

Kindergarten. School. All things we were told might never come. This day HAS come!

September 18th, 2013 will mark four years since her massive brain injury. On that day, instead of dwelling on the nightmare she endured as a baby, this beautiful girl of mine will be sitting in a kindergarten classroom with her friends, learning to spell, read and do all of the things we were told she might never be able to do. Rock on, Emma!