Jamysen : So Much More

If I could tell another family anything, it would be this: document every single moment. One day, you’ll be so thankful you did. Our memories fade, but photos keep them alive. Some of the images I have from Poppy’s birth show me moments I’d forgotten. They remind me that she was here, she was real,…

I named him Joseph Alexander Dean, after my grandfather who was like a father to me. I held him, memorizing every inch of his face. My eyes flooded with tears, full of love, pride, and heartbreak. My son lived for 41 miraculous minutes. He defied every expectation. And then, he was gone.

Oaklee was declining fast. She was no longer breathing on her own. And I made the hardest decision of my life—to withdraw care. I couldn’t watch her struggle anymore.

Acute means “fast-growing,” and in the case of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), the body makes too many immature blood cells that don’t turn into normal white blood cells. Because AML is a fast-growing cancer, the signs and symptoms are typically caught early.

When we learned that our options were running out, we discovered On Angels’ Wings and reached out. Under the dire circumstances, they moved quickly—arranging for a photographer to capture one last family photo. They gave us the gift of time standing still, a chance to hold onto one precious moment together.

One of the most meaningful moments we had before she passed was made possible by On Angels’ Wings. Emma wasn’t going to make it to her sister’s wedding, but OAW made sure she could still be part of it. They dressed up together, right there in the hospital room. The photos from that day mean…

I just wanted her to survive. I never imagined my daughter would have cancer. Lyncoln thrives on social interaction, and being isolated for 11 months was so hard—for her and for me. She’s strong and resilient, and now that she can be a “normal” kid again, you wouldn’t even know she’s still in treatment.

Her birth was healing. It was everything we hoped it could be. Every second of her pregnancy felt like we were holding our breath—and finally, we could exhale.

The photos OAW took of Gracie mean so much to us. They give me something to remember her by—something real to hold on to. We try to attend everything we can with OAW. The women there are wonderful. The events help me cope with the loss.

The photos that On Angels’ Wings provided mean the world to us. The pictures of our sweet angel Jackie are the only ones we have of him, and we will cherish them forever. Our family photos—capturing our beautiful chaos—are just as special.