And just like that our world changed. Some of you are caring for family members in isolation, many are suddenly working from home with kids underfoot, many more have been laid off and are uncertain of what the future holds, others are on the front lines in healthcare roles and essential services working everyday to keep people safe and supported. Everyone is grieving what their life was like and adjusting to a new normal.
The sudden changes in our lives brought about by the global pandemic are similar to the upheaval a family may feel when a child is born prematurely…when there are serious concerns about a child’s development…when a child if first diagnosed with a disease or condition. There is uncertainty. There is grief. But there are also new connections and growth, as families adapt to these new and unexpected circumstances. I’m here to tell you that you can do it. There will be difficult days. There will be days you just need to remember to breathe. There will be days when you will cry or scream or hide. But you can do this.
As a photographer, it is my goal to make documentary family photography accessible for all medical, special needs, and palliative families. It’s important that families facing challenges, particularly the caregivers, see themselves in their story. Right now, we are all facing challenges. The 21 Weeks photography project tells the beautiful story of one resilient family.
Melanie and Ella stand in their kitchen window looking out following the Town of Canmore declaring a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
Melanie’s family take part in the Front Steps Project, an initiative with the aim of spreading a little joy and building community while social distancing measures are in place. 
Just a few short weeks before it had been business as usual. Melanie sorts through Ella’s binders and paperwork at her kitchen table in preparation for their upcoming Rett Syndrome clinic day. 
After a morning spent at Kindergarten with her peers and the support of an education assistant, Ella starts running for the car with Melanie following close behind. 
Melanie and Ella travelled 400 km to spend the day with the Rett Syndrome experts at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital in Edmonton. 
Ella is non-verbal. Her “talker” and Melanie’s notes are two things that go with them to every appointment. 
Ella finds a way to keep herself entertained, while Melanie learns more about assessments, symptoms, and action plans for Ella. 
Ella’s final assessment of the day is a hip x-ray. Melanie stays in the room to comfort Ella while the technician gets the image. 
Just a few weeks later, following the school closures and social distancing measures, Melanie and Ella are now navigating a new normal, without the support of education and therapy teams. 
For the outsider looking in, life for Melanie and Ella probably looks similar to how it did prior to the global pandemic. But that is not the reality. Let’s hope this crisis shines some light on just how important the education and healthcare communities are for ALL Canadians.
We are 14 weeks into this project and this past week our assignment was to submit our “new” set of ten captioned images to our 21 Weeks photography mentor, Kristine Nyborg, where she again critiqued the story. 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 spent hours agonizing over which photos to submit and since our video critique session I have second guessed more than half of them. I’m not quite sure how this project will continue in the current situation. Like many things, we will have to wait and see. Though I know the next time I post about it I will probably have a different set of images.
But the best part to come out of this project is the connection Melanie and I have. When one or the other of us is having a challenging day we will be able to talk it out over a glass of wine and a chat, whether that means over the phone, the computer or one day, in hopefully the not too future, over coffee.
This Zoom conversation with Alisa Foster of Empowering Special Needs Parents, touches on some of the background for the 21 Weeks project, as well as all things parenting during a pandemic.
If storytelling through documentary photography is of interest to you, for either your family or your organization, please connect with me.
PS Kristine has set up a free online class called Corona Stories if you are interested in learning with her. There is one for photographers and one for non-photographers. Highly recommended!
The photos are excellent. You have captured the love, the warmth, the joy and the hard work that is involved. I found the pictures moving, and I am so proud of Melanie in the way she handles her own journey with my darling grandchild.
Hi Patricia! I’m so glad you are able to follow this story. Hope you are staying safe.