The stories of medical families are filled with both moments of pain and moments of joy. As a photographer, it is my goal to make documentary family photography accessible for all medical and palliative families. The 21 Weeks photography project tells the beautiful story of one resilient family through the eyes of a mother and daughter.
I originally met Melanie through a Facebook group for medical parents in the Bow Valley even before we officially moved to Canmore, Alberta. She and I connected a few times online and decided we needed to go for coffee. We immediately bonded over our love of photography and our shared experience as the primary caregiver and advocate for our medically complex kids. As you know if you’re a medical parent, relationships with people sharing similar experiences are incredibly important to feel supported.
At the same time that I was getting to know Melanie and her family I was also working with my photography mentor, Kristine Nyborg, and gearing up for her photography workshop, 21 Weeks. Here’s how Kristine explained 21 Weeks to Katie Jett Walls of Confluence Magazine…
“I wanted to create a workshop that would show rather than tell the students how a photographic story is built. You get 21 assignments over 21 weeks, some photographic, some written, some observational and some to sequence your work. It’s like a blueprint to photographic storytelling.”
Kristine Nyborg
When I first broached the subject with Melanie of photographing her family for 21 Weeks, there was understandably a little hesitation. But Melanie has followed along as I’ve shared our family’s medical story and after discussing the idea with her husband, Gavin, she decided to give it a shot.
Here’s what Melanie wrote on instagram after she saw images from our first time together, skating at the pond in Canmore, Alberta.
“Well friends I got lucky! All us medical mamas can use a little extra luck if you ask me! 🤗 A friend of mine, Kristy, is an amazing photographer and will be using Ella and I (with some appearances from the men, and some other awesome people in our lives) in her photo project. Since I’m often behind the camera or busy helping Ella, and since #Iwastheretoo I’m extra excited for these photos and this great opportunity for sharing our story. I hope you will enjoy them as I post some over the next #21weeks.
Please give @kristy.wolfe some love. Her photography blows my mind, especially her medical and care giving photography which I’m a little newer to seeing. I just love documentary style photography. Here are some photos of myself, Ella (my girl with Rett Syndrome) has her big brother Conor (in the red jersey). 📷: Kristy Wolfe Photography
Melanie
My 21 Weeks project focuses on Melanie’s caregiver role, as well as the relationship between Melanie and Ella. My hope is that this project will highlight the strength, resilience and hope that is necessary when advocating for your child in the medical and education systems.
This project is telling the story of one family’s life with Rett Syndrome.
The morning sun highlights the peaks of the mountains on a January day near Melanie and Ella’s home in Canmore, Alberta. 
While Ella is at Kindergarten, Melanie spends the morning at home organizing paperwork for an upcoming Rett syndrome clinic appointment. 
The sectioned binder, therapy reports, extensive notes, and colour-coded agenda spread across the kitchen table provide just a glimpse into the life of a medical parent. 
Melanie has just a few short hours to organize and prepare for the upcoming clinic before she needs to pick up Ella from school. 
Melanie meets Ella in the boot room at school where they use her “talker” to communicate about Ella’s day and what comes next. 
After getting boots and the rest of her winter gear on, Ella starts running for the car with mom following close behind. 
Ella has not displayed the repetitive hand movements that are typical of girls with Rett Syndrome. 
Once home, Melanie patiently observes Ella as she explores the driveway and reminds her that it is almost time for lunch. 
In the front entryway of their home, Ella demonstrates her independence by taking off her boots and putting them away as Melanie unlaces her own boots. 
Melanie sits on the stairs of their home ready to provide verbal prompts as Ella hangs up her coat. Melanie is always looking for ways to support Ella in gaining independence with daily living tasks.
This week I submitted the ten captioned images above to Kristine and then had them critiqued in a video session with her. The image above is actually just one image in a slideshow – swipe left or click the arrows to see the rest of the images.
I am quite a linear storyteller, and the feedback I received from Kristine was that we are going to work on challenging that linear pattern of storytelling. The types of images she suggested I include are images from different times I have spent with Melanie and Ella – a close up of her “talker”, a portrait of Melanie where there is more tension, introducing Ella more clearly…so I am adding a second slideshow below. While this was a challenge for my linear brain to wrap around, it was a good opportunity to expand my skills!
Melanie describes some of the challenges her daughter, Ella, has due to her diagnosis of Rett Syndrome while out for a walk in Canmore, Alberta. 
Ella watches the families skating on the pond as Melanie laces up her son Conor’s skates. 
After skating for a while, Ella chooses boots and time with mom. 
Ella interacts with Santa as Melanie prepares Ella’s “talker” for her to tell Santa what she would like for Christmas. 
Melanie and Ella examine a fairy costume after meeting Santa at HiJinx Toy Store. Dressing up is an activity Ella particularly enjoys. 
The sectioned binder, therapy reports, extensive notes, and colour-coded agenda spread across the kitchen table provide just a glimpse into the life of a medical parent. 
Melanie’s husband, Gavin, offers his home-smoked cheese and injects some humour into the monotony of managing medical paperwork. 
Ready to head for home after a morning at Kindergarten, Ella starts running for the car with Melanie follows close behind. 
Five year old Ella is now in a booster seat with a regular seat belt for short car rides. 
Melanie sits on the stairs of their home ready to provide verbal prompts as Ella hangs up her coat. Melanie is always looking for ways to support Ella in gaining independence with daily living tasks.
If storytelling through documentary family photography is of interest to you, for either your family or your organization, please connect with me.