TGHP | The John Family

As a photographer in a small Midwestern town, I'm often asked to donate my services to different organizations and benefits throughout the year. I love how my business is able to give something back to the community that we love so dearly, and help make a difference in someone's life. This is how I met Ryan John and was fortunate enough to be able to photograph Ryan and his family for The Gold Hope Project.

The John family would forever change this past May when Ryan was diagnosed with RMS (RT Orbital Rhabdomyosarcoma). Ryan, a football-loving 12 year old, then started his life changing journey with 12 weeks of chemotherapy, followed by radiation treatments. During Ryan's family photography session, he was full of smiles and having a blast playing football with his parents and siblings. You would never know that this pre-teen with such a playful, energetic attitude had been through so much in the past year.

Ryan is a regular 12 year old kid who loves football and video games. If he could spend a day with his family, it would be at the waterpark, and his favorite place to be is in the comfort of his own home. I asked Ryan's mother if she could describe him in one word, and she responded with, "brave". I think that's the best description for every child like Ryan that is fighting such a battle...BRAVE!