Making My Daughter Stronger
by Sarah Hoffman
They missed it. She had an eight-pound tumor on her kidney and they missed it. Shelia Burnett of New Franklin, Mo. was diagnosed with stage IV Renal cell carcinoma in May of 2011. Recently her cancer reoccurred in her liver and is no longer curable. Burnett is preparing her family for her death. “There’s a lot of times I ask myself why am I having to go through this? I don’t know why I am going through this other than making my daughter a stronger person.” said Burnett. Burnett’s daughter Lauren Burnett, 17, has stepped up to help her mother with chores at home and at their family business Boggs Auto Salvage and Sale.
According to a study by Kathryn E. Weaver, assistant professor at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, rural cancer survivors reported more psychological distress, were more likely to be in fair or poor heath and unable to work because of a health condition than urban cancer survivors.
Burnett fears burdening her family with her emotion and she wishes there were more resources and support groups for people living in rural areas. “That’s part of a rural community we don’t have the resources a big city would have so you learn to use your family.”
Living Without Arch
by Ellen Thommesen
My grandparents always held hands. Even into their 70s, they reminded me of newlyweds, excited to show each other affection any chance they got.
Arch Leean, my grandfather, was studying abroad when he proposed to Mary through a letter. As soon as she read it she hopped on a boat to England to spend the rest of her life with him. They got married with their cab driver as the witness.
Married life was full of adventure. They lived in England, traveled Europe on a scooter, moved to New York City then to California where their two daughters were born. They finally settled as a family in Northfield, Minnesota where Arch was an art professor and Mary was a foreign student administrator at St. Olaf College. Settled in but always traveling, they frequently went on study abroad trips with students to places like Thailand and the Middle East. Camping trips, road trips, backpacking trips, you name it, the Leean family did it.
I couldn’t have asked for a better example of love than my grandparents. They were happily married for 56 years, completely devoted until death parted them.
Arch’s health began deteriorating in his late 70s, and he was diagnosed with a rare degenerative brain disease called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. After a 3-year battle with the disease, he passed away in April, 2011. Mary served as his primary caregiver in order to keep him at home with her in the dream house they built for their retirement.
After a lifetime of companionship, love, and raising a family together, Mary is left alone. She has transformed from a wife into a widow.
The loss of her husband has not been easy, and the transition into widower has been a difficult one. She notices that people speak to her in softer tones and often treat her differently now that she is alone. Many offer advice for how she should cope with her loss. Even though she acknowledges they are telling her what would help them in the situation, she believes grief is very personal. Everyone experiences it differently.
Mary chooses to embrace sadness when it comes and relish in the good memories of her life with Arch. She loves telling stories about him to my younger brother and I every time we see her. She feels blessed to have had so much time with such a great man and will continue the healing process with the help of family and friends.
Transition
Dakota Raynes, 27, is a senior at the University of Missouri, a teaching assistant for the Social Inequalities class, a McNair Scholar, a father of a seven year-old girl, a self-proclaimed hippie and a transgender. Raynes, born Lieselotte Lorene Harvel to Jehovah’s Witness parents, has been transitioning for over three years now, taking testosterone and using a compression vest to appear more masculine. Raynes has faced much opposition while transitioning, most notably when losing custody of his daughter, Lily, a year ago after the judge deemed him unworthy of parenthood, saying, “If this person doesn’t even know what sex they are, how can they raise a child?” This piece takes an inward look at the day-to-day life of a transgender, from everyday activities to judgment and oppression.
*CLICK ON THE PICTURE AT LEFT TO SEE AN AUDIO SLIDESHOW.
In and Out…
Miles Ellington, 21 year-old, is a tenant of a apartment next door to a shelter for homeless teenagers where he used to live. Mile’s house is a place where many different stories are told. He lives by himself officially, but, in actuality, he has six or more roommates—Joe, Josh, Mary, B.B, and Aaron coming in and out. Most of them are homeless people. Miles offers one of his couches to people who need to stay. Miles gets along with them, except when Miles invites his lady friend. The age range in Miles’ house spans from mostly teenagers to a few in their late forties. Miles pays $50 a month for a one-bedroom apartment with the assistance of the government. The “couch mates” do not pay rent at all, However, Joe gives Miles a ride when needed, while the others offer whatever they have available. Joe bought a 2009 Mustang after receiving money from the National Guard. Miles hopes that he could also join the army someday. Although it seems that there are no rules, All the “couch mates” have their own responsibilities in the apartment.
Music, “Looking inside myself”, used on this project, was made by Miles and his “couch mates.”
*Click on the picture above to see an audio slideshow.To see more of Truth Leem’s work, go to: truthleem.com
The Preschooler and the Prosthesis
Ethan Lauchstaedt, 4, wears a prosthesis as a result of his Proximal Femoral Deficiency (PFFD). It is a condition that is very rare–it only affects 1 in 100,000 children born. Ethan’s mom, Beth, found out that Ethan had it right after he was born. PFFD develops very early on in the embryonic development, and causes on leg to grow much shorter and at a slower rate than the other. In Ethan’s case, this is his right leg. The condition requires Ethan to see three different doctors: one in Columbia, Mo. one in St. Louis, Mo. and one all the way in Baltimore, Md. In his short lifetime, he has had six different prosthetics.
Click HERE to see a multimedia project about Ethan’s story.
When you have choices
*CLICK ON PICTURE ON LEFT TO LAUNCH MULTIMEDIA PROJECT
By Amy RymerStory Summary:
Ana Maria sends half of her salary to El Salvador each month to provide for her family. After nearly three years in the U.S., Ana Maria doesn’t have savings, but now that she has paid off the debt for her travel to the U.S., she is planning for the future–with multiple options. After her husband died in a car accident ten years ago, Ana Maria took over his business in one of San Salvador’s two biggest markets, called San Jacinto.
Five years later, two supermarkets were built around the market. After trying to compete with their lower prices for two and a half years, Ana Maria couldn’t provide for her family any longer and decided to move to the United States for work.
Ana Maria’s travel to the U.S. not only cost herself monetarily, but it also affected her family. Her sister, Milagro, who raises her son Carlos, gave her own land as collateral for the loan that paid for Ana Maria to go to the U.S.
Ana Maria had to pay back a total of $12,000 to a coyote in El Salvador who loaned her the money. The average cost for someone to go to the U.S. illegally from El Salvador is $2,000 – $8,000*. Ana Maria paid more because when she realized she was in a scam, she had to convince multiple coyotes to take her the rest of the way. A trip that can last as short as a few days took Ana Maria two months.
*UNDP El Salvador Human Development Report 2005
Rymer produced this mixed media presentation in the United States and El Salvador as part of her Master’s Project at the University of Missouri.
To see more of Rymer’s work, visit her Web site: amyrymer.com.
Under One Roof
By Sally Morrow
Story Summary:
Sierra Williams and Micheal Duckworth live with their mother Samatha Stevenson and her fiancé DeWayne Foston Sr. along Route BB in St. James, Missouri. As siblings, Sierra and Micheal share daily life and look out for one another. Under one roof, brother and sister grow as individuals and grow closer together.
This story was produced in conjunction with the Missouri Photo Workshop
To see more of Sally Morrow’s work, go to her Web site: www.smorrowphotoj.com
Columbia Punks
*CLICK ON THE PICTURE AT LEFT TO SEE A SLIDESHOW.
Story Summary:
After dropping out of high school, seventeen-year-old Zach moved in with friends to a house on Ann Street in Columbia, Mo. Under one roof, the various occupants and temporary visitors were family to each other despite differences in belief or background. Zach and housemate Tin were two of the primary residents, and went out together most afternoons to collect spare change for food and beer. After dark, the house became a social hotspot and frequently hosted amateur music shows in the basement. In August, 2008, Zach, Tin, and several of their friends moved on to Denver, Co.
To see more of Parker Michels-Boyce’s work, go to his Web site: www.pmbphotography.com
63rd CPOY Winners from MU
Above image: ©2008 Amanda Lucier, “Dan White”
*CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE TO SEE A SLIDESHOW OF THE WINNING IMAGES FROM MISSOURI PHOTOJOURNALISM STUDENTS FROM THE 63RD CPOY COMPETITION.
Congratulations to all of the winners from the University of Missouri-Columbia photojournalism department in the 63rd College Photographer of the Year contest. They were:
Runner-Up College Photographer of the Year
Amanda Lucier
General News
Bronze – Ben Fredman
Award of Excellence – Katie Barnes
Portrait
Bronze – Amanda Lucier – University of Missouri
Award of Excellence – August Kryger – University of Missouri
Illustration
Award of Excellence – Katie Barnes – University of Missouri
Domestic Picture Story
Award of Excellence – Katie Barnes – University of Missouri
International Picture Story
Bronze – Joon Hyoung Kim – University of Missouri
Portfolio
Silver – Amanda Lucier – University of Missouri
Individual Still Image/Audio Story or Essay
Silver – Katie Barnes – University of Missouri
Award of Excellence – Katie Barnes – University of Missouri
To see all of the winning images from the College Photographer of the Year contest, go to: www.cpoy.org
The Philosopher’s Life
Sara Chant is a philosophy professor at the University of Missouri – Columbia, and shares a close relationship with her five great danes. “It feels like having other people around,” said Chant. She spends $240 a month on dog food and has specifically designed her home to have lots of open space and several leather couches for her dogs.
*CLICK ON THE PICTURE AT LEFT TO SEE AN AUDIO SLIDESHOW.
To see more of Katie Barnes work, go to her Web site: www.katiebarnes.com
The Secret Life of Children
*CLICK ON THE PICTURE AT LEFT TO SEE A SLIDESHOW.
Story Summary
In the town of Sturgeon, Missouri the youngest four children of the Furlong families are in a world of their own. Their parents are largely absent, and the children spend their time at their discretion, with the freedom that the relative safety of their town, with under a thousand residents, and their rural surroundings allow. Though much of their life is charged with frenetic energy, there are many moments marked by quiet, when they seem removed from the chaos of their lives, and they inhabit their own interior worlds.
To see more of Amanda Lucier’s work, go to her Web site: www.amandalucierphoto.com
From the Suburbs to a Teepee
Angela Radford, 11, and Sierra Radford, 12, moved to the Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage with their mother Amy Radford in April 2008 after seeing a TV program about the ecovillage of 41 residents. They previously lived in a four-bedroom, two and three-quarter bath house in Norman, Oklahoma and now live in a 16-foot teepee without any electricity. The girls are being “un-schooled” which means that they make choices about what they want to learn, and they learn by doing activities instead of being in a classroom.
*click picture at left to see slideshow.To see more of Katie Barnes Work, go to her Web site: www.katiebarnes.com
62nd CPOY Winners
Above image: ©2008 Ben Fredman, “After the Fire”
*CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE TO SEE A SLIDE SHOW OF AWARD WINNING IMAGES FROM MISSOURI PHOTOJOURNALISM STUDENTS
Congratulations to all of the winners from the University of Missouri-Columbia photojournalism department in the 62nd College Photographer of the Year contest. They were:
General News
Brandon Kruse – Award of Excellence
Ben Fredman – Award of Excellence
Sports Action
Benjamin Reed – Silver
Andrei Pungovschi – Award of Excellence
Sports Feature
Ben Fredman – Bronze
Illustration
Katie Barnes – Gold
International Picture Story
Ikuru Kuwajima – Bronze
Sports Portfolio
Benjamin Reed – Gold
John Tully – Silver
Ben Fredman – Bronze
Portfolio
Benjamin Reed – Award of Excellence
To see all of the winning images from the College Photographer of the Year contest, go to: www.cpoy.org
The Unscripted Life
Sabina Alam was born with a severe hearing-loss in both ears. Growing up, she learned to communicate using sign language and reading lips. Also, Alam has developed a passion for acting. Today, she lives in Columbia, Mo. where she is eager to express her punk rock lifestyle and her opinions on life and politics. Alam overcame many obsticles when she was younger, now she is preparing to graduate college and become a professional playwright.
Sabina Alam’s hearing aid on her right ear. Alam cannot hear out of her left ear, and she only has 0.5% hearing in her right ear. Her hearing aid only provides a slight glimpse to the sounds of the outside world. “Everything sounds muffled,” she says. “Whenever I hear a sound behind me, I ask what is that.”
*Click the picture to see slideshow.To see more of Aaron Rosenblatt’s work, go to his blog.
A Solitary Mind
Due to a series of national health care cuts, the mental health community has sought to move patient care from state institutions into the community as part of the rehabilitation process. Drop-in centers and boarding homes, often non-profit, have assumed responsibility. This project examines the world of Donald Mabe, a 55 year old man in St. Joseph, Missouri who has been in and out of mental institutions for as long as anyone can remember. Although somewhat isolated inside the mental health community, Mabe seems most comfortable in one of the only environments he’s ever known.
*click on the image at left to see slideshow.To see more of Benjamin Reed’s work, go to his Web site: Benjamin Reed Photography
Banei Horse Racing
Draft-horse racing, called Banei Keiba in Japanese, only exists in Obihiro City, Hokkaido, an island located in the north of Japan. Draft horses are twice as big as thoroughbreds and drag more than 1,000 pounds of sleighs along the 218-yard dirt course during a race. This unique horse racing started about a hundred years ago while the horses were primarily used for farming. Over years, producers developed the draft horses exclusively for races. Today, about 10,000 individuals are involved in the draft-horse racing industry. However, changes in people’s leisure time activities and decline in the population in the surrounding towns almost led draft-horse racing to close its history. However, the large oppositions from fans saved the draft-horse racing, although its future is still uncertain. All the photographs were taken in March 2007.
*Click the picture to see slideshow.To see more of Ikuru Kuwajima’s work go to his blog.
Before His Time
Earl Briggs had to grow up faster than some of his classmates at St. James High School. He moved out of his parent’s home when he was 16. Things were too chaotic around there — too much drinking and too much drama, he says. He moved into an apartment with a friend and got a job at McDonald’s to pay the rent. Earl is now a senior with one foot still in his youth, and the other firmly planted in the adult world.
*click on the image at left to see slideshow