Joe + Becki

Two years ago we released our very first Unveil your Cinderella video chronicling what the pampering portrait day involves.  Becki was our featured Cinderella.   She’s a vibrant world traveler who chases after adventure and couldn’t wait to come back with her husband to create portraits with him as well. 

So when Becki’s portrait request came in a few months ago for romantic and playful couple portrait session with her best guy Joe, I couldn’t wait to get started planning for them!  When I met with Becki and Joe in their pre-consult I asked ‘so what has brought you here today?’  What followed is a reminder to hold tightly to those you love in life.  

Becki and Joe love doing life together…they love traveling and dancing and exploring together.  Their shared sense of adventure has taken them to many countries and they attempt to experience each place they explore as authentically as possible.  Last year while on a trip to Peru Joe was not feeling well.  They chalked it up to likely being one of their dining choices while eating what the locals eat–cuy–which is guinea pig.

In many South American countries, cuy is an important food source, much the same as chicken is here in America.  Becki and Joe figured Joe’s stomach was not quite as adventurous as his spirit was and that likely accounted for his sickness.

When they returned home from their trip, Joe was still not feeling well, so they knew it was time for a trip to the doctors.  What Joe learned after several tests, was that his body was fine with the cuy…but there was something much worse going on that had nothing to do with guinea pigs.

Joe was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia called Harry cell leukemia.  It is a rare, slow-growing cancer of the blood in which your bone marrow makes too many B cells, a type of white blood cell that fights infection. These excess B cells are abnormal and look “hairy” under a microscope.  There are about 500 cases a year diagnosed in the US.

This news stopped Joe and Becki in their tracks.  They had so many plans to travel, to explore, to share their love while embracing life with vigor and now it seemed they may loose all that upon hearing one word:  cancer.  Cancer is a murderous thief responsible for an untold number of shed tears, sleepless nights, and desperate prayers to our Father God for healing.

Joe began treatment at Mercy Hospital immediately while Becki was his constant cheerleader and advocate.  There’s nothing like a cancer diagnosis to cause you evaluate your life and help you embrace what’s most precious to you.  

Today Becki and Joe are celebrating as they are pleased to report that Joe’s cancer is in remission!  Their shared laughter over and over again during their portrait time was a sweet and precious sound.  They are thankful for the cuy dinner they shared which raised the concerns and spurred them to make a doctor’s appointment.   So Becki and Joe we celebrate with you and thank you for reminding us how precious our time with our loved ones is!  May this portrait collection be something you smile and laugh over 50 years from now in your retirement home!