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Caption: Candid portraits of my mother during her last 9 months of life Behind the smiles
Caption: December 31, 2013 Life changed for me on the last day of 2013. Around 2pm, my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 non small cell lung cancer. It was the most painful thing I had ever heard in my life.
After the doctor left the room, I asked my mother to be excused. I ran down the hall until I found the first unlocked door. It was a classroom. I sat on the floor with my back against the door and cried. The room was wood and antiquated compared to the rest of the hospital. It was the first time in a long time that I felt a pain like that.
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Caption: _______
Caption: Chemo A few months after the diagnosis, my mother began chemotherapy at the Washington Cancer Center. She didn't know what to expect during her first treatment.
It was snowing outside. She sat patently in the lobby and just watched the snow fall.
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Caption: Happy Birthday My sister and I feared that her birthday would be her last one. We planned a surprise birthday party for her. She was able to dance and enjoy herself with all of her friends and coworkers.
Although, she was somewhat weak from chemotherapy that week, she was able to dance, sing, and laugh with the people who meant so much to her.
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Caption: Looking up Not too long after her birthday party, things started to look up for her. She wasn't doing as bad as she had been.
My sister and I began assisting my mother every other week (one week with my sister, one with me). Things were looking okay but then things took a turn....
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Caption: Georgia After my mother finished her first round of chemotherapy, my mother became hospitalized after feeling weak. She was admitted a few days before she was scheduled to go to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America just outside of Atlanta Georgia.
The hospital advised against it saying that she wouldn't be strong enough for the ride. My mother felt otherwise. We arranged for her to be discharged and at the airport in time for her flight. She was excited because she felt that this would be the change she needed.
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Caption: Trying to hide the pain During the flight my mother was in obvious pain. She kept saying she was okay but she was so weak that she couldn't hold her head up on her own.
I wish we had listened to the doctors in DC but it was too late. We were hovering over America, on our way to "hope"
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Caption: There's nothing else.... After a few ups and downs in Georgia, they told my mother the words no one wants to here "There's nothing else we can do". They discharged my mother and sent her home to be on hospice at home.
Hospice is an experience that will toughen your soul. You have to watch the person you love fade away from the earth. I was able to take candid portraits of my mother over theist few weeks of her life.
The following photo is of my mother and sister sitting quietly after a long day for us.
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Caption: Our days were spent talking to my mother and learning about her life. She was able to share her expectations with us and we had the chance to promise to achieve them.
The following two photos are of my mother while talking to my sister and myself.
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Caption: Bonding I always feel as if I didn't spend enough time with my mother and I'm so blessed that I had the chance to spend many days and nights being by her side.
The following photo is a selfie of my mother and I.
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Caption: Downward spiral Things went bad really fast. We had to rush her to the hospital towards the end because she was in pain and complaining of respiratory pains.
The doctors in the ER warned us that it was the end but she kept fighting.
The following is a photo taken by sister of my mother and I speaking about if she wanted to be intubated.
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Caption: Final Weeks
The following portraits were taken over the last couple of weeks of my mothers life.
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Caption: The final hour The following portrait of my mother was taken about an hour and a half before my mothers last breath. She went unconscious in the position in which she is photographed. I was sitting outside of the room on the couch and she was looking at me until she fell into her final sleep.
My mother passed away shortly before 5pm on Thursday September 4, 2014. My mother IS the single most amazing person I've ever known. She will continue to play a part in my inspiration. Life is short? Spend as much time with your loved ones before you're left with regrets.
I love you mom and I can't wait until we meet again.
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