Think Pink - Winning, Losing, Everything in between....

jeffreaux2

Last night our local high school celebrated homecoming. The football team lost a game last year in the state semi-finals that kept them a single win away from competing for that title in the Superdome. This year, they are 7 and 1 and undefeated in district play. They have shell-shocked nearly every team we have played, including our 5A rival who came to our stadium a few weeks ago ranked 8th in the state. Our boys handed them a 60 to 21 loss to think about 'til next year.

But that isn't the story here.... Vicki is.

A few months back, a close and true friend of my wife passed away. She had fought a 12 year battle with what began as breast cancer. Over and over she stunned her doctors...and all of us....by cheerily living on past every treatment.....every relapse....every doomsday prediction....until finally in July this year she could fight no more. Her love, strength, and faith touched everyone she met....and really....our whole community. She left behind a husband, two sons, other family and a host of close friends.

Last night...at homecoming she was honored.

I had gotten a call from my wife at work asking if I could shoot photos of Vicki's two boys as they were to be captains for the coin toss. I usually avoid anything to do with sports, but agreed. Who wouldn't. After all, the school had been doing a fundraiser all week to raise awareness of breast cancer and to also raise money to help defray the cost of Vicki's medical expenses. Everyone had been asked to wear pink, and her entire family was to be recognized during pre-game. I was all in....and in for a string of surprises.

1- The players were to wear pink accents and gear pieces for the game. Here we are during pre-game warm-ups.


2-Vicki's husband watches on....as the boys prepare for the game...


3-Their oldest son plays varsity and would be the single player to wear pink gloves...and note here the surprise of the field being marked in pink.


4-....her mother during pre-game....


5-Family gathers at pregame...


6-Sister...and Mother on field during pregame.


7-Our football coach talked about breast cancer...and Vicki.


8- Another huge surprise......Our school colors are Black, grey and Maroon......but they wore pink and black tonight....


9-...and they each wore her name....their coach saying "She is everybody's mother tonight".



10-...but especially....these two....her sons.....both wearing the same number as the younger was an honorary captain since he is not on the varsity squad.


11-The view at opening kickoff from where she would have been sitting with us at home games. She was a rabid fan.



The boys went on to win the game. The score was 42 to 6 at the end of the first quarter, with a final of 62 to 9. The younger guys were able to play the entire second half in a special night. A night that made me proud to be from this special community.

More at this link!!!

kidzmom

Jeff, I'm teary eyed looking at these moving pictures. What a tribute! Wonderful work Jeff. Your photos are a touching tribute this special commemoration.

Memories by Melinda

Wow! These photos brought me to tears. The actions of the team and the school are memorable and selfless. What a wonderful bunch of kids. Great job capturing such special moments.

Elaine

Oh man...#2 brought the tears right away. What a capture. And then seeing all those big boys in black and pink...
Great documentation of a moving, poignant event.

saurora

I didn't get past the 2nd post and the tears just started rolling! What a moving game and evening that must have been! Your photos are a great documentation of a very special event.

Scott_Quier

I added my own contribution of water to the mix. These images, especially those of the family gathering center-field, struck a very strong chord with me. Well done. There's no doubt the family will treasure your gift to them!

Flyinggina

More tears here.

Amazing and deeply thoughtful gift to Vicki's family and to everyone who participated.

Your photographsare wonderful and will be treasured by everyone involved.

Thank you very,very much for sharing.

You do indeed live among an outstanding and special community.


Virginia

adbsgicom

Moving and amazing series. I'm glad you agreed to shoot it, and thank you for sharing it here.

Mitchell

Very moving, Jeff.

Thanks for sharing these images and the story.

pwp

More waterworks here. So moving and touching to see all of those people in support of such an important cause! Thank you for taking the time to share!!

Darren Troy C

Moving to say the least. Excellent work Jeff.

markgorby

What an impressive tribute to an obviously wonderful woman. I wouldn"t have been able to see thru my viewfinder. You did an amazing thing documenting this for everyone involved. Thanks for sharing.

divamum

No words. :cry

JulieLawsonPhotography

This post and the pictures have me in tears. Cancer is such a horrid word with horrid results as times. I'm sure that the many who have posted replies on here have been affected in some shape or form by this disease.

This set of photos are amazing and a wonderful tribute to a wonderful woman.

Thank you for sharing

lilmomma

very touching, ditto to what others have said...thank you for sharing these.

jeffreaux2

Thanks to all who have commented....

Now may be a good time for me to 'fess up and say that my mother is a breast cancer survivor. She is from a family of 10 kids in which cancer has run rampamt. So much so, that our family was the subject of a genetic study in which the gene that causes breast cancer in my realatives was singled out and identified. This study involved genetic testing of over a hundred of us.....including myself. Yes, I drove down to the breast cancer research lab and had blood drawn....then waited pins and needles only to find out I do not carry the gene.....as many of us don't. I was so relieved that we didn't have to get our kids tested......as the buck stops here!

Those that carry the gene can expect a 50% greater chance of contracting cancer than those of us who don't. Scarey odds.

The key, though, is in early detection. So girls.....get your exams!.....regularly!

Again....thank you all for your response.

Sam

Words escape me but good job at providing the support you can.

These images will be precious keep sake for her family.

Sam

Joie

Great story and you did an excellent job capturing the emotion of the story.

ivar

Amazing story, and great shots, Jeff. Well done, to all.

AndMan

ivar wrote:

Amazing story, and great shots, Jeff. Well done, to all.

I can only agree with all the previous comments, other words fail me.

WingsOfLovePhoto

:cry

Sir Hawkins

all i can say is WOW

cr8ingwaves

I had tears the first time I read this and viewed the pics....then I wanted to share it with my 12 yr old football player...and I was crying enough to not be able to read it to him. Your photos and words are a wonderful addition to the tribute of the team and community.

Simply amazing all of the details that they covered. Congrats to them and I hope the rest of their season goes as well. Football players everywhere will be impressed with their accomplishments.

for now I will enjoy the fact that my own son wants to spend the rest of the day just hanging out with his mom.....because he can.

jeffreaux2

cr8ingwaves wrote:

I had tears the first time I read this and viewed the pics....then I wanted to share it with my 12 yr old football player...and I was crying enough to not be able to read it to him. Your photos and words are a wonderful addition to the tribute of the team and community.

Simply amazing all of the details that they covered. Congrats to them and I hope the rest of their season goes as well. Football players everywhere will be impressed with their accomplishments.

for now I will enjoy the fact that my own son wants to spend the rest of the day just hanging out with his mom.....because he can.

THAT is awesome.....I hope you two had a great day together!!!!

ian408

What a wonderful tribute

Gringriff

Thanks so much for sharing such a caring story. It is difficult to read through this post with watery eyes. I hope this story, your words and your photos are shared with your hometown, the family, and her friends. This can be a treasure to share and remember for many years to come.

jeffreaux2

Hey I appreciate the response everyone.

Im happy to say that the school raised enough money Friday night to offer to purchase the headstone....as circumstances had prevented that purchase until now. Unfortunately our coach has recieved some REALLY bad press from ESPN and FOX news in the last couple weeks for a play that was run in a game a few weeks ago. The caption on FOX read "Great pass - No class" and went on to say that he chose to run a tricky behind the back pass while ahead 56 to 0. The truth (I was there) was that we had missed our extra point kick on our first touchdown. After scoring a second one we tried another kick, but the opposing team was called offsides and moved us closer to the goal. The coach ran the offense out for a two point try and called the behind the back pass play. It was flawless and we got our two points to put things at 14-0.

Anyway, I think he is a class act for a number of reasons, but especially for what he has done for this family.

...and now Im left to wonder how far off from the truth the rest of what I see on Cable news is.....



Here is the play...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abVrcAGlT_U

ian408

Jeff, it's all talking heads. I wouldn't worry about it.

bandgeekndb

Jeff, like everyone else here, I'm in awe. I lost my grandmother to breast cancer, so I can only begin to understand the loss that it brings to a family.

I just love how a simple night of taking pictures, a hobby we all love and some make into a business, can make such a HUGE impact in someone's life. Now, thanks to your work, that family will remember this day forever.

This is why I got into photography, to turn events into memories. Portraits are fun, and I love sports photography, but event photography is such a precious thing, whether it be weddings, proms/dances, or an event like this.

Excellent work, as always Jeff, and I hope you're proud of your work!

~Nick

allensfoto

Wow!
:cry Please let me start by saying thank you for sharing.. the story is amazing.. you really captured the essence of the night.. what a wonderful community.. it is great to see this in today's society.. don't worry about the news.. the coach seem very much a class act.. i'll keep the family in my prayers..

Shima

Wow, what an amazing way for your community to honor this woman. Truly amazing how they pulled everything together for breast cancer awareness and the memory of her. Thanks for sharing.