What strength looks like

November 2018

You know, I thought I knew what strength looked like in life changing, world shifting, unimaginable situations. But, my visit to Royal Westmead Children's Hospital yesterday turned my image completely on its head.

As I wandered the bright, vibrant halls of Westmead Kids, I couldn’t help but smile. The irony is not lost on me, as I know while the halls are painted in happy colours, the rooms are full of incredibly sick kids going through their darkest days. But, the feeling of that place is actually one of magic and hope, the strength pouring out of these kiddos and their families made me quite emotional.

Yesterday, I saw strength in the woman sharing a giggle over lunch with her beautiful bald baby girl at the cafe on level 2. I saw strength in the overprotective mum walking closely behind her apparently ‘completely fine’ 12 year old while he limped into the lift. I witnessed strength in the dad who carried a bag full of his daughter’s dearest treasures behind her tired little body being moved between wards. Then, when I entered our baby girl’s room, I saw strength sitting right there on the end of her bed. My bestest friend in the whole world has become the epitome of strength.

I spent 5 precious hours with my friend and her beautiful baby girl yesterday and every moment I was in awe of their combined strength. My friend all of a sudden now has to think about haemoglobins and neutrophils instead of play dates and birthday parties. She has switched out hair appointments for chemo dates with her little angel. She spends 20 hours of the day away from her little boy as her little girl needs her more. This is what strength looks like, accepting a new normal and soldiering on in spite of the overwhelming urge to run in the other direction. I saw another side to my oldest friend yesterday. My friend is strong. Her family is strong. So, we who all watch on, are being strong too, in any way we know how.

#fuckcancer

I created a whole range of prints for this beautiful girl. If you are interested, please email me! All prints below are $10 digital files.

J x

Professional Photography Credits Jess Elizabeth Photography