If you don't know who they are here is a very quick snap shot of who they are (you can read the full story of Kennedy and her family on Kennedy's Blog )
Stephanie and Brian got married and decided to have a baby. So their journey started like many of us but the day Kennedy was born their whole lives changed in a way so very different from us it's hard to really put into words. Kennedy had many many problems and most of which were unexplained for an entire year. Her first year of life was spend in hospitals, operating rooms, labs, helicopters, and around many many confused doctors. She was later diagnosed with Leighs Syndrome among many many other underlying conditions. Basically if you were to see Stephanie and Brian around town with Kennedy you'd see a toddler that seemed to be just lazily lying back in her stroller starring off to the inside of the canopy. Kennedy had only the ability to move her eyes and she sometimes gave us a smile (the best smile I've ever seen in my entire life). Stephanie and Brian were determined to give Kennedy the best life she could have no matter how long or short it was going to be. So they took her to Disneyland, to town festivals, to Disney On Ice shows, they took her everywhere you'd take a normal child. Despite having to be fed through a slow time releasing feeding tube, despite having to lug around this loud and heavy suction machine so she wouldn't choke on her own saliva, despite all the stares and rude comments from heartless strangers, they gave Kennedy the most amazing life imaginable. She didn't spend her 2.5 years of life at home staring at the house walls she saw the world from her view and listened in as her family lived life. I remember going to Disneyland with Stephanie and Kennedy and we took my son Aidan and Kennedy (they are a couple weeks apart) on the Pooh Bear ride, I'll never forget it as long as I live. She smiled through the entire ride. Here is a child who when she cries its so faint and soft only a trained ear can hear and understand what she needed or wanted, she couldn't even move any other part of her face and the sheer sound and site of this Winnie the Pooh ride made her use everything she had to smile. It was amazing!
Well to move along the story... Kennedy unfortunately left this world for a much better place at the young age of 2 1/2. Stephanie was a little over half way through her pregnancy with Collin. They really wanted to give Kennedy the bond of a sibling and she didn't quite make it but something tells me Miss Kennedy is living that bond in another more amazing way. Kennedy was nicknamed Peanut by Stephanie and Brian so when she passed I was lucky enough to have the trust of the Bonomo Family to take care of the memorial service and it's decor. I took a bunch of mason jars and filled them with peanuts to symbolize Kennedy. So they saved one of those jars and brought it to their family session. They also made a gorgeous K from the letters they had in her room. This was their first family photo session with out Kennedy so they wanted to include her somehow.
Kennedy and her family are so much apart of my inspiration for everyday life, they are so much apart of my soul. My Husband and I named our daughter Isabella Kennedy so that she'd have that same inspiration in knowing she had a purpose and a meaning in her name and so Kennedy's story would never be forgotten. I hope this blog and my continued photo shoots with this family is another way to keep their story alive as well.
I did Collin's newborn photos and its hard when they are that small to really say who they look like but now that he is a little older it is clear as day that he looks just like his big sister! He even has her feet!!!!!! I just love it!
I had to start the photos off with the last family session we did with Kennedy
This is my very favorite!!!!
I love just watching them love on him and shower him with attention!
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