This is Cheri here, with our first She Inspires feature of the year.. We figured we would end the week with one special girl! Here
at She Inspires, women of all ages inspire us. I want to
introduce you to our little friend Makayla. Makayla is twelve years old
and is wise beyond her years. She loves to read, loves art, loves her
family, and mostly importantly love God. When she grows up, she wants
to become a Neurosurgeon.
I met Makayla & her family several years and have since become great friends. I have had the pleasure of photographing this sweet family throughout the years. I have seen them at their best and I have seen them at their absolute worst. Family sessions with them are always bittersweet, I love that I have been able to document these years. The appreciation and joy that my images bring to them each and every year is priceless. However, with each and every session there is a lump in my throat and often times we find tears burning our eyes because we see the fragility of life. I see such raw happiness behind my camera, but I know they are fighting a raging battle. Each day is a gift and what lies ahead is often times filled with uncertainty, but they handle each sharp turn with beauty, strength, faith, and grace.
I met Makayla & her family several years and have since become great friends. I have had the pleasure of photographing this sweet family throughout the years. I have seen them at their best and I have seen them at their absolute worst. Family sessions with them are always bittersweet, I love that I have been able to document these years. The appreciation and joy that my images bring to them each and every year is priceless. However, with each and every session there is a lump in my throat and often times we find tears burning our eyes because we see the fragility of life. I see such raw happiness behind my camera, but I know they are fighting a raging battle. Each day is a gift and what lies ahead is often times filled with uncertainty, but they handle each sharp turn with beauty, strength, faith, and grace.
So
world, meet Makayla. She is the face of strength, beauty, &
grace. A child of the King who is not defined by her illness, but
fueled by it. During the Summer of 2011 Makayla became extremely sick.
He illness started off with a horrible headache, progressed, and ended
with a diagnosis of an incurable illness. As a parent, you never want
to hear the world incurable in conjunction with your child. Makayla was
formally diagnosed with Chiari Brain Malformation and Pseudotumor Cerebri.
She
has endured 26 surgeries during the last 3.5 years. She still attends
school, plays the Piano & Cello, and even in her most painful
moments, has a smile on her face. And her reasoning for wanting to
become a neurosurgeon is fueled by her determined to find a cure for
Chiari. In her spare time you will find her studying the brain and
reading medical books, YES, I said medical books. Her room is full of
them!!
When she is not working on getting into Yale, she has a paint brush in hand or she is making paper cranes.
Just
this past month, she launched her very own website/e-store. She
continues to make sweet lemonade with life's lemons and inspires all
those around her. I truly believe if anyone is capable of becoming a
neurosurgeon, this little lady can do it. She has perseverance, drive,
determination, strength, and most importantly faith. Follow her journey
and become inspired. This is a journey of courage, faith, & love
at www.ourstrengthproject.com
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.
Psalm 73:26