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.
Tags: Beaverton Oregon High School Senior Photographer, eaverton Oregon Family Photographer, Krissy Allori Photography, Portland Oregon Baby Photography, Portland Oregon Child Photography, Portland Oregon Engagement Photographer, Portland Oregon Family Photographer, Portland Oregon High School Senior Photographer, Portland Oregon Maternity Photographer, Portland Oregon Wedding Photographer
Wow. What an absolutely amazing family. There are no words to express what I feel for them. You can tell that Mason brought joy to everyone and I’m bawling my eyes out right now. Beautiful photos, beautiful video, beautiful family.
This is what photography is all about. These is so touching and wonderful. Bless Mason and bless his family. My prayers are with you.
Love each and every one of these pictures. What a special young man and amazing family. Wish I lived close enough to attend this fabulous event!
Thank you for capturing the spirit and love of Mason’s family. Their enthusiasm for life is contagious! Help fill the stadium this Sunday, August 19th starting at 2 PM.
wow! What a special young man and such a beautiful family. Mason is certainly an inspiration to all. I will be keeping this family in my prayers. I do hope they get their wish for filling the stadium this year!! Thank you for sharing these wonderful photos of such a great family.
What a beautiful family. My prayers are certainly with them.
Tearing up over here. So glad you were able to get these fantastic family photos. My heart goes out to Mason’s family.
I don’t know this family, but my heart is heavy to hear of the terrible news of Mason’s passing. Krissy, these photos of their family together are truly something special. They all look awesome, happy, and are a reminder to us all on what makes life worth living (our loved ones).
I hope the festival this year is bigger than ever. I think Mason was on the right track with sno-cones. Thank you for sharing!
Typing through tears here. What a brave and courageous boy. My prayers are with his family and all that loved him. The pictures are just amazing and will be cherished forever. The family shot at the end of your post is just beautiful.
Tears. These are simply amazing. The joy you captured is so prevalent in the family shots. I’m sure these pictures have provided many hours of comfort for this family while they grieve. I love the ones of Mason, especially, and of mom and dad…just beautiful work, Krissy.
This is such a touching post, with beautiful captures. This family is in my thoughts, and I pray they find a cure. Your photographs are so beautiful, and really show how much love this family has!
These are beautiful! What an amazing family – my thoughts are with them!
Oh Krissy, how heartbreaking! Those big blue green eyes will surely be missed by his adorable family. I am so glad they have some beautiful family portraits to cherish and the knowledge that their sweet young man touched so many lives. I pray they find a cure soon!
What a moving post and such beautiful pictures to treasure. You can tell that Mason was surrounded by so much love and brought joy to those around him.
Such beautiful photos to tell the story of this family’s little hero Mason. I know they’ll forever cherish these. My thoughts are with this family and I hope that this yrs event is the grandest!!!
These will be treasured photos for sure! What a beautiful family. My thoughts are with them as they cry through the pain of their loss and laugh through the beautiful memories of their precious Mason.
These are beautiful! What a treasure for this family.
My heart breaks for this family and their loss. The photos are absolutely beautiful and I know they will cherish these forever.
My heart goes out to this family. My baby boy has has this horrible disease since 5 and it makes everyday so much more precious and cherished. My heart aches for you
Such a beautiful family. And you captured them so well. My heart is breaking for them.
what a beautiful and amazing family! i’m sure these images will always be treasured!
These are so touching. My heart goes out to this family. You truly captured the love and strength of this amazing family.
Such a beautiful family. My heart goes out to them. I’m so sorry for their loss. Beautiful images that you were able to capture for them.
There are no words. The captures are perfection that the family will treasure until the end of time…
So touching and beautifully told, Krissy. Thank you for sharing a little of Mason with all of us.
So inspiring. What a special session.