STEPHEN SNIDER (16)

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO DO THIS PROJECT? When I asked to participate in an activity at MGH Cancer Center because my mother is a cancer survivor, this project came up. I wanted to do it without question.

WHAT ONE WORD DESCRIBES YOU BEST. Wonderful.

IF YOU WERE AN ANIMAL, WHAT WOULD YOU BE? A monkey.

IF YOU WERE MAROONED ON AN ISLAND, WHAT THREE THINGS WOULD YOU WANT TO HAVE WITH YOU? Water, food....... and a boat.

WHAT IS THE ONE THING THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO FIND OUT ABOUT YOU? That I actually look people in the eye and listen at them when they are speaking to me.

WHAT IS MOST "SPECIAL" TO YOU ABOUT YOUR PARENT? My mother has an unbelievably high tolerance for pain and never complains. She loves everyone around her. She is hardly negative about anyone or anything. She has charisma that lets people who have known her for a short time feel that they have known her all her life.

IN WHAT WAY HAS HAVING A PARENT WITH CANCER CHANGED YOUR LIFE? With my mother having cancer I realized that people can get sick and potentially pass away and that really frightened me. When she survived, I felt a great deal of gratitude. I appreciated her more than ever because I could have lost her.


GAYLE SNIDER (STEPHEN'S MOM)

DESCRIBE SOMETHING THAT YOU LEARNED ABOUT YOUR CHILD WHILE YOUR PORTRAIT WAS BEING TAKEN AND WHAT IT MEANT TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED BY HIM/HER.
I learned that Stephen could just be "in the moment" and how important it was for me to be in that moment with him during our photo sessions.

WHAT IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT LEARNING EXPERIENCE THAT YOU HAVE SHARED WITH YOUR CHILD, SINCE BEING DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER?
I would say - not to be afraid to live life to its fullest. Live well, Laugh often and Love much!

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