INDIANAPOLIS – Photographs mark a moment in time. For the Dilger family, the moment comes as their youngest, Kiara, faces a cancer diagnosis. The three-year-old and her mom came to Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital from just outside of Evansville – a three-hour drive.
“We just found out – I got her diagnosis yesterday, that she has B-Cell ALL [Acute lymphoblastic Leukemia]. I think that's what it's called,” Janet Dilger, Kiara’s mom, said. She continued, “[It’s] Leukemia. She has leukemia. She will start her treatment tomorrow.”
On Wednesday in the middle of appointments, the two came down to the Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases. It’s where professional photographer, Mark Watson, set up his studio Wednesday.
“Here in Indianapolis, we have photographed hundreds, hundreds of families,” Watson said.
These photos are a start to a new journey for the Dilger family.
“This is an opportunity [that’s] kind of fun with her and I thought it'd be neat to mark a milestone in our journey,” Dilger said.
The nonprofit called “Flashes of Hope”marks a moment in time during a child’s cancer diagnosis through photographs. Nationally, the organization has done nearly 90,000.
“We wish we didn't have to do it at all. We wished children didn't have cancer. But the fact is they do, so we want to just keep coming back over and over and over,” Watson said.
Before sitting down for photos, the families participating at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital are pampered with hair and makeup. Once the session is wrapped up, all of the photos are given to them for free. For patients who are isolated to their rooms, the team gowns up and heads to them.
“Our goal, honestly, is to keep photographing until every child is cured,” Watson said.
It is a flash of hope — of strength — of love — of beauty. A time to celebrate the bravery through a cancer journey the Dilgers and so many others have walked.
“We have been really, really blessed. Right now, I just thought know we know God has everything set up for us,” Dilger said.
-
16-year-old dies in Hendricks County crash
A 16-year-old is dead after a single-vehicle crash near Pittsboro in Hendricks County Monday morning.
Braden Smith leads No. 13 Purdue past Yale
The Boilermakers extended their home winning streak to 21, tying the third-longest in Mackey Arena history.
Veteran entrepreneur finds success with help from SCORE mentors
Indiana is home to more than 534,000 small businesses. Free guidance from mentors is available for entrepreneurs working to achieve their dreams.
Silver Alert cancelled for missing 41-year-old man from Delphi
Indiana State Police cancelled a Silver Alert that was declared for a missing 41-year-old man from Delphi.
