My mother, Nancy Louise Barta was born on November 5, 1938 in LaGrange, Ohio.  At the age of 19 she married Robert  Schindler in 1958.  Bob and Nancy bought a house in Elyria and went on to have a total of 6 children.  It was in the spring of 1992 that my mom had a grand-mal seizure.  Doctors diagnosed her with having had a very mild stroke.  Years passed with no more symptoms other than the slight weakness on my mother’s left side.  However, when she started to experience increased weakness on her left side and her hand started to shake, her doctor ordered tests and in 2000 a biopsy was done on tissue from her brain.  

The biopsy confirmed a rare, incurable brain cancer; chronic lymphoma with plasmatic tendencies.  What that meant was there was no tumor that could be removed but rather, this cancer spread itself, like a virus, all over my mother’s blood vessels in her brain.  By the time this was diagnosed the cancer had already completely enveloped the entire right side of her brain and was starting to spread to the left.  

Reeling from the news, our family asked that dreaded question; how much time do we have?  The doctors could not even begin to guess. We were told this cancer was so rare that only my mother and one other woman had it in the US.  They assured us that it was one of the slowest growing types of cancer. These doctors were now pretty sure that it was more likely that the seizure she experienced years ago was a result of the beginning of this cancer. 

She had lived for 8 years, was not experiencing any pain and was so high functioning with over half her brain enveloped that they just could not tell us how it would proceed.  So, instead of doing any type of aggressive treatments they started her on an in-home chemo regiment.  They did routine MRIs to keep track of the growth and all seemed to be going fine until she began to experience yet more weakness on her left side with her right side beginning to feel the effects of the cancer spreading as well.  Also in 2000, my father was diagnosed with bladder cancer so he too began a form of treatment.

In the fall of 2003 the doctors performed tests again but this time decided that an aggressive round of radiation should be done. So, my mom received 5 weeks of radiation, 5 days a week for 5 minutes at a time.  She finished her last round right before Christmas.  The effects were devastating and on January 1, 2004 she was admitted to the hospital.  Her brain began to swell and her health began to fail.  She never came home from the hospital but instead, died on February 2, 2004 in a nursing facility. 

As a photographer, I know how important it is to have family photos done on a routine basis.  As a daughter, I wish to this very day that I had pushed to have a photo done while we still had my mother.  There were 6 siblings along with spouses, nieces and nephews, schedules to coordinate and with some of us living over 120 miles away; it just never got done.  
I regret that more now more than anything.  

That’s the reason I have decided to offer my services free of charge to families who have suffered through and survived cancer ~ or to those who are fighting the disease right now and don’t want to wait.  If you, or one of your immediate family members has been affected by cancer, you are eligible for a free family photo session and one 8”x10” print ~ with absolutely no obligation to purchase anything else.  Some restrictions do apply so call me for all of the details and to set up an appointment.

And now for the good news: my father has been cancer free for 7 years! We look forward to having him with us for many years to come and we did get that well over-due family photo in November of 2006!  

"I may not
look great...but I look ALIVE!!! Thanks for all you do in your Mom's
memory and to support the rest of us still facing life with the
challenge." Lindy P.; Cortland, OH

"Awesome pictures!   Thank you so much for this generous offer.  I am very sorry that your mom lost her battle."  Mary Ann C.; Marysville, OH