Now and Forever

Who is this, you may wonder? Well, this man is a son and a father. An Army veteran and someone's fiance. These are things a person could more easily guess. What might be a little harder to imagine would be that he is a Traumatic Brain Injury Survivor, or better yet, a miracle. Every face has a story behind it. Sometimes a person is easy to read or figure out, and other times, we challenge ourselves to understand.

If we put ourselves in his shoes, what would it be like? What things would change? What challenges might we face? He started this journey over two years ago, and was given less than five percent chance of living. If you or a family member were given those odds, what might be your reaction? Would you take the time that was given, and succumb to the statistic, or would you fight?

This man and his family chose to fight. To tread water with every fiber of their beings. They never let the weight of words or of doubt ever get in their way. Learning everything all over again is hard, but he stood up and he took those steps one at a time. Every small victory, was a celebration and every misstep a learning experience. When you are given a choice to live or die, choose life.

He started his life all over again and was reborn the night of his accident. He continues to progress and seek out challenges to better himself. He cares for his family, takes long hikes and focuses on his therapy and recovery. Though there are struggles, never once has he taken his second chance for granted. He is a special and inspiring individual and this photo was created to not only celebrate every achievement he has made thus far, but to celebrate and revel in the opportunity of a future.

Many of us wake up every day and pass by every small moment. This injury has further taught him and his family the importance of the little things. They understand that seemingly mundane actions and the simplest of words mean more. When short term memory loss forms a cloud over a moment, they have worked together to form an umbrella. Finding unique ways to weather the storm.

The idea of a future for most people is a "no-brainer", but at the time a brain injury occurs, that future seems very uncertain. This man is now able to look forward. To dream and make plans. He is able have hope. He can watch his children grow up and get married. He can grow old and gray. This photo was not only about the path he has traveled, but also about the miraculous journey that he's so humbly blessed to have now. Put simply, Life!

This photo was originally created with IPhone X, then using the FaceApp to edit the age. At the time, it was on trend and just something fun to do. Later, realizing that it captured the essence of life in its current state and looking forward to a bright, shiny future. This gave him the opportunity to see what it might be like to one day look back over his life. This, in particular, is something that many people with his type of injury, may not have been so lucky to have. It is important to him, to be cognizant of these moments, so as to not let them pass by.

The image was then fused with a Layout App to form a split face as one whole. This would allow the viewer to see where he stands today, but have a glimpse into what is now possible for him. The image was also cropped to put the focus solely on his expression and transformation. After getting the images lined up, Instagram edits were used to balance the image and give it an impact and a hopeful vibe to pair with its story.

It was important to bring out the optimistic atmosphere that he portrays on a daily basis. He is strong willed and positive. He always turns to humor before anything else. His determination and grace has inspired so many of the people that have gotten to know him. The hope is that when seeing his story, others may find the power that they hold within themselves to push through any obstacle they may face, with poise and strength. This is a simple portrait that does not hold many bells and whistles, but the moments that led up to it and the moments that will follow, are humbly and ecstatically lived.