Photographer captures precious memories for families facing terminal illness

When facing a terminal illness, every moment is precious.

The Sass family, from Waterloo, knows that well.

Their three-year-old son Elliott has Ataxia Telangiectasia.

“It’s a rare genetic disease, autoimmune, kind of a combination of muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis, really high rates of cancer, and it is terminal,” Corie Sass, his mom said.

 While he seems like typical toddler now, with endless energy and giggles, the disease will soon rob him of many functions.

“Kids like this will need assistive devices, walkers, wheelchairs by the time they’re eight,” Andy Sass, his dad said.

So right now, while Elliott can still run and play, they’re capturing every moment they can, with the help of Micheala Henrichs, a photographer from Waverly.

Henrichs does free photo sessions for families facing terminal illness, she calls it the Brave Hope Project.

“Families can look at these photos and remember the good times,” Henrichs said. “There’s a lot of bad times with their illnesses but these memories they put on their wall are of their kids smiling.”

Brave Hope started with her daughter River. She was diagnosed with viral meningitis when she was five days old and nearly died.

“We have very few photos to remember how hard she fought,” she said.

So now she’s helping other families document their children’s strength.

She’s photographed Elliott ever since he was born, even edited his parents’ wedding photos.

But it took on new meaning since his diagnosis came at two-years-old.

“There’s going to be a time when he isn’t able to run around and play so to be able to get some of those moments captured, it’s priceless,” Corie said.

Henrichs is hoping to spend more time doing photo sessions like this than she’s ever been able to before.

“I’ve seen the heartache and what people endure and I want them to remember the good times,” she said.

So with every click of her camera, she’s making that happen. Capturing moments that will never fade.

To learn more about the Brave Hope Project go here: https://www.facebook.com/something.new.productions/?__tn__=KH-R&eid=ARApo0I9TsaKZyM_kh1Lwhn3wvtRCwvYF3r6MnB2ldCprOuqMVeXjAgOTEomUiNNZ3oz5Z3tb8J-Xgyp&fref=mentions