INDIANAPOLIS – Photographs mark a moment in time. For the Dilger family, the moment comes as their youngest, Kiara, faces a cancer diagnosis. The three-year-old and her mom came to Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital from just outside of Evansville – a three-hour drive.
“We just found out – I got her diagnosis yesterday, that she has B-Cell ALL [Acute lymphoblastic Leukemia]. I think that's what it's called,” Janet Dilger, Kiara’s mom, said. She continued, “[It’s] Leukemia. She has leukemia. She will start her treatment tomorrow.”
On Wednesday in the middle of appointments, the two came down to the Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases. It’s where professional photographer, Mark Watson, set up his studio Wednesday.
“Here in Indianapolis, we have photographed hundreds, hundreds of families,” Watson said.
These photos are a start to a new journey for the Dilger family.
“This is an opportunity [that’s] kind of fun with her and I thought it'd be neat to mark a milestone in our journey,” Dilger said.
The nonprofit called “Flashes of Hope” marks a moment in time during a child’s cancer diagnosis through photographs. Nationally, the organization has done nearly 90,000.
“We wish we didn't have to do it at all. We wished children didn't have cancer. But the fact is they do, so we want to just keep coming back over and over and over,” Watson said.
Before sitting down for photos, the families participating at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital are pampered with hair and makeup. Once the session is wrapped up, all of the photos are given to them for free. For patients who are isolated to their rooms, the team gowns up and heads to them.
“Our goal, honestly, is to keep photographing until every child is cured,” Watson said.
It is a flash of hope — of strength — of love — of beauty. A time to celebrate the bravery through a cancer journey the Dilgers and so many others have walked.
“We have been really, really blessed. Right now, I just thought know we know God has everything set up for us,” Dilger said.
-
Indianapolis organizations desperately need winter essentials
Local organizations are packed, their supplies are running low and they need winter coats to continue serving the community.
Utility costs continue to strain Hoosiers as lawmakers advance assistance bill
A bill moving through the Indiana Statehouse aims to help low-income households struggling to pay their utility bills.
DPW works to clear streets under new policy after historic snowstorm
Nearly a week after a historic snowstorm blanketed Indianapolis, some residential streets remain unplowed, leaving drivers stranded and residents frustrated with the city's snow removal efforts.
Local pediatricians push back on CDC's reduced childhood vaccine schedule
Local pediatricians are pushing back on new guidance from the CDC that cuts the childhood vaccine schedule from 18 to 11 diseases, saying it's a decision not grounded in science.
