Meet Mason.
Mason was a hero. Mason had a huge heart. Mason was courageous. Mason was dearly loved. Mason was an inspiration.
Mason passed away this summer after a long, almost life long battle, with Juvenile Dermatomyositis (known as JM).
I was fortunate enough to capture photos of this loving family last fall. In just 14 minutes, I got smiles, I got laughs, and I got lots of love. Mason wasn’t feeling great that day but you wouldn’t be able to tell from that gorgeous smile and big bluish green eyes of his.
The reason I held off posting their photos was because I wanted to share them with you all the week of the Cure Kids Jam and Festival that is happening at the Hillsboro Stadium this Sunday, August 19th.
I asked Mason’s parents to write something about the festival and this is what they said:
“When we started the concert is was a celebration of sort for what we felt was a miracle when Mason made it through his battle with Pnemonia in San Diego as a result of his ongoing medications and disease. The concert now is a chance for families to get together and create lasting memories as we enjoy life together. Mason taught us that life is short and that you should always live today as if it were your last. We hope that this event is one that families truly enjoy and remember that each child is such a special gift.
Mason loved music, games, food…anything that would entertain him. He was so excited the first year we planned a concert….all because we were trying to raise awareness of his disease and raise funds for research to help find a cure. We were wanting more for our little guy….a cure! He was in the hospital at the time, and got a “pass” to join in on the fun for just a little bit. That burst of fun got him well enough to go home just one week later. He wanted to make the concert a yearly tradition, each year getting bigger and better. This year he had the grand idea of giving out snow cones to everybody at the concert….so what did Dad do?….he bought a snow cone machine! That put a huge smile on our little man’s face. This year marks our 4th year holding the fundraiser, but Mason will not be here to celebrate it with us. He passed away June 19th, 2012. His dream was to fill the stadium this year…he thought snow cones might do it. We want to make his wishes come true….1-FILL the stadium, 2-give out snow cones!”
I can’t even begin to tell you how many lives this little man touched. Mason was, and will forever be, an amazing spirit.
If you live in the Pacific NW, please grab your kids and join the celebration at the Hillsboro Stadium this Sunday afternoon. I’ll be the one with the really big camera.
To learn more about JM, visit www.curejm.org.
Mason’s big brothers and younger sister.
My traditional “walking” photo, however Mason was twice as fast as his siblings!
These two have had to endure pain that no parent should ever have to experience. Mason taught them, and hundreds of others, to love life and love your family.
After Mason passed, his dad made this video. The photos take you through a journey of Mason’s life. Be sure to have the sound on to hear a beautiful song written for Mason by the lovely and talented Jessica Lerner.
And here are just a handful of photos from last year’s event. Fun for the whole family and all of it is for such a great cause.
