D0CT0RL0VE's Blog

...HI ALL!!!!

...first of all...I am a sports photographer by choice...and...I am beginning to realize why I choose to be a sports photographer...

...about a month ago...I was sent to cover a little girl's 5th birthday party...on my drive to the location...I actually thought to myself...SO!?!?!?...the Rockets were about to make the playoffs...Rice and the University of Houston were on their way great baseball seasons...and I'm on my way to cover a birthday party...well...the little girl is known as Princess Courtney...doctors say she should not have seen her second birthday...Courtney's mom and grandmother do not see her as a burden...but...a blessing...Courtney has a disease that has robbed her of all movement except for facial expressions that let you know she loves life!!!!...her mom came up with a "dance" that Courtney could do by pushing Princess C around in her carriage...

...I left AFTER leaving a donation...and BEFORE anyone caught me tearing up....where is the sport in that?!?!?

...before Mother's Day...the Rockets out of the playoffs...and the Texans starting another summer...Damali and I met a shy kid by the name of Tony...Tony was around 9ish-10ish...kind of quiet but strong willed with Damali and me letting us know he was a BIG boy...after the interview...he asked for paper and crayons...and...went straight to drawing...when he was finished with his secret project...he went to his foster mom...and showed/gave her the first Mother's Day card she had received this year...in the card...he had a drawing of her family...with an extra little boy...himself....

...his foster mother teared up...Damali teared up...I pretended to have camera problems so no one would see the lump in my throat...where's the sport in that?!?!?!

...this Sunday...Rice and UH advancing towards the Super Regionals in college baseball...I met the Johnson family...at a "Cancer Day" event...I went to interview Stephanie Johnson...a healthy looking young woman...and asked her what was wrong with her husband...as her voice trembled a little...she told me SHE had her stomach removed...and...that now the cancer was spreading...I felt horrible...until her husband...Greg...stepped in...and...said he had started a support group for other spouses who were dealing with cancer...her two boys...in a show of unity...BOTH had their heads shaved because Stephanie lost her's to chemo...her cute little daughter was a camera hog...but...in a good way!!!!...Greg has a organized a triathalon planned for September that Stephanie plans on participating in...I'm not sure...but...I think we showed the event that night...but...didn't get into the Johnson's story...

...as I left them...choked up...of course...I'm sure they forgot about me...and...the reason they were there....and...got back to being a family...that just happens to be in a fight with cancer...where is the sport in that!?!?!?

...I have NO problem asking a millionaire how he could have missed the three pointer to sent the game into overtime at the buzzer...or how he could strike out with bases loaded...putting the game over in the "L" column...BUT...asking people how they survive with smiles on their faces...when serious roadblocks are place in their paths...THAT is the hardest thing to do...where is the sport in that!?!?!?

...I am glad I met Courtney...and her mom and grandmother...Tony...and his foster mother...Stephanie and her wonderful family...and I hope they stay in the "WIN" column...after all...I am a sports photographer by choice...I don't think I can get through another story like any of theirs...where is the sport in that!?!?!?

...I don't know...that's just me...

...late...

...DOC...