Posted on July 12, 2010
I was second shooting at a wedding last Saturday when a call came that I dreaded—it was from my husband. “We need to go to the Emergency Room,” he said. Everything in me sunk… Tears were only a breath away and I was trying hard to hold them back as I had to explain to the primary photographer that I needed to leave… only 30 minutes into the shoot.
I felt bad to leave her—she hired me to help her, but I could not stay. As I drove to the house I fought crazy thoughts and fear bombarding my mind. But with every breath and every tear that slipped out of my eyes I grunted my teeth and whispered: “Lord, please, please, Lord, don’t let it happen again! In you I trust…”
The memories of the past flooded my mind and I felt like everything around me was swimming, spinning out of control. In 2002, just 6 months into our courtship, Demetrye ended up in a hospital. MRI revealed a cyst on his brain and it had to be operated on immediately to save his life. One day too long and he could have been either dead or paralyzed, at best.
1 major brain surgery and 2 other procedures followed, ensuing 1.5 months of arduous stay at the hospital. I was there as long as I could be—every day. I slept 4-5 hours a night, went to work, took care of my and his finances, and spent every waking moment with him at the hospital. It seemed that the only time he could relax and rest was when I was there.
The doctors thought me crazy when I insisted that God would heal Demetrye so he would not have to have a shunt installed into his body. I told them that we appreciated what they did for us, but now we had to wait on God to do His part.
2 infections of the spinal fluid and 2+ years of recovery later, shunt free, he was back to normal. The sleepless nights, the times I had to inject antibiotics into his veins 3 times a day and try to hold my panic back when his IV got clogged were over. We could finally live like normal people.
We worked hard to pay off the medical bills and to ensure that Demetrye’s recovery times were known only to us.
We had lived through him not being able to remember what he was saying right in the middle of saying it, getting lost en route to his job and forgetting what he wanted to do before he had a chance to do it. I had to be his saving grace—one glance from him and I knew I needed to take over the conversation and to gently bring him back into it, as if nothing happened. I had survived through the ignorance and disapproving glances of those who thought I was a bossy wife because I finished his sentences for him and suggested his next thought. I have seen and felt it all.
I had lived through feeling the desperation of a man who could not as much as add two numbers together after the surgery. I had to remind him that it was temporary and prayed that it was so. I knew that I was going to love and marry him regardless. He was my soul mate and without him there could be no future.
Years later all was just a distant painful memory. The experience brought us close together, but it was one I did not like to relive often.
A few weeks ago Demetrye bumped his head on a cupboard. A day later a swelling showed up… right on the spot where the brain surgery was done. We were slightly concerned, but it was just a bruise—a bump that would go away. So, we prayed and waited. It went away in a couple of weeks and all was well.
But our life got a bit more eventful… A few weeks ago the bump reappeared and instead of getting smaller it got bigger and painful. We scheduled an appointment to see a doctor this week, but last Saturday the pain was too much to handle. Demetrye left work early and called me up. I knew it was serious.
“Lord, please, please, Lord, not again! Not now! Not ever!” I prayed through my tears as I drove home to pick my love up. “We have too much to do. We have a life to live. Please, dear God! Let it be nothing!”
We drove to Vancouver’s hospital barely exchanging a few words, praying and thinking the same thoughts; holding hands.
Thankfully the wait at the hospital was not long—we held hands and searched each other’s eyes for reassurance while waiting. “Everything will be OK, love,” we would whisper every now and then.
Thank God, everything turned out OK! Turned out that when Demetrye bumped his head he got a mild infection in the skin, and it decided to visit him twice. “Cellulitis” is the problem, the doctor told us. A week of antibiotics should take care of it.
What a relief! Forever thankful for the news we heard [yes, a mild infection compared to a life threatening alternative is OK any time of the day in our family], we chatted on the way home and I even made it back in time to help out for the remainder of the wedding shoot.
Life has gotten better in a matter of a second. But the situation made me appreciate it and every moment we are gifted even so much more. There is not one that we can waste—I treasure each one deeply. Every moment I look into Demetrye’s eyes I know I see a miracle. Every time I hear him breath and feel his touch I file those moments in the memory bank of my heart.
Not ONE moment to waste!
And here is the final product:
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Now, go capture yours! And treasure them too.
Posted on July 8, 2010
. One of them is my second love–NUTRITION. Dietarily I am vegan and I strongly believe in the benefits of a plant based diet. Want to know why? Find out all about it HERE. So, I believe in it, promote it and support it.
husband. He was such a trooper–he worked his “day” job AND stopped by to help us too. My sister [the head huncho in charge] made him wear a little beard net… tee-hee .
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Posted on June 30, 2010
Did you already make plans for the Independence Day? Family time, cooking, grilling, fireworks? How are you planning to spend this great weekend?
Each year, when this time of the year comes around, I am especially reminded of all the reasons I am grateful to live in the United States of America. Freedom abounds here still; opportunities are overflowing and are waiting to be taken. From all the places I have been to I still love USA the most.
My big plans to celebrate? I will actually be working HARD! Each year our church, Kelso Church of Truth, runs a food booth at the local lake [that’s where the city fires off all the cool fireworks]. We raise funds for various projects each year, and this year is no different. We will be making and selling delicious Russian Foods in Longview, WA, AND this year we will also be offering Vegan/Vegetarian options, including my favorite—green/fruit smoothies. So, yours truly [me], will actually be in charge of the vegan/vegetarian food most of the time. I have to make sure that all of the conscious folk in Longview/Kelso WA area get served and eat well while celebrating our nation’s independence and spending time with their families.
Here are some fun shots from previous years’ celebrations.
So, if you are in Longview, WA and need a good bite to eat—come see me at the Russian Food booth, at the lake Sacajawea, by the statue of a boy with a dog.
Happy early Independence Day!
PS: We will be there Friday-Sunday this week!
Posted on June 14, 2010
Time sure flies by. 18 years ago four little miracles came into our family: Zarina, Irina, Matvey and Aleksandr [aka Alex]. They were cute, cuddly and totally out of this world… and then they grew up! Overnight!
In the last week all 4 graduated from high school and are standing poised to face their future.
I actually got to photograph 3 out of 4 senior sessions for these cuties. Check them out.
Zarina, Kelso High School Senior [more images here and here] 
Alex, Vancouver Senior [more images here]
Irina, R A Long Senior [more images here and here]
Two days ago I got to see Zarina turn over her tassle. What a proud moment for all of us… for all of them!
