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"Having cancer has been the single best experience of my life. Because now I appreciate all things."
--Kathy McMullin
(breast cancer)
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CONFRONTING CANCER:
IMAGES OF STRENGTH AND HOPE
These are photographs of people in varying stages of cancer treatment. Some are newly diagnosed, some are in the middle of treatment, and others are cancer-free. They confront the disease with emotions that may include anger, hope, fear, patience, or acceptance--depending on the day.
I have always been drawn to people who live fully in the moment. In photographing people confronting cancer, I wanted to explore how those affected by this devastating disease may actually find their day-to-day lives emotionally enriched as they find new resources they never knew they had. Their ability to infuse each moment with meaning has become a source of inspiration for me, both artistically and personally.
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"Three things have kept me going: My friends, music and God. My friends took me in when I had nowhere to go. And God is in the music."
--Edwin Gray (lymphoma, Kaposi's Sarcoma, skin cancer)
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"When you get a cancer diagnosis, the biggest fear is that you might die. But with the love and support of family and friends, you get through it. Then you can pass that support on to others."
--Karen Gorton (breast cancer)
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"When you have a bad day you come up with things that can help: A vanilla Coke can rest your stomach if you can't tolerate anything else."
--Fran Murphy (breast cancer)
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"You just do what you can do, day by day. The end result may be great, so that's what you have to strive for."
--Fran Murphy (breast cancer)
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© 2008 Gretje Ferguson Photography, All rights reserved.
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