The Fortitude Exhibit
"We forget ourselves and our destinies in health, and the chief use of temporary sickness is to remind us of these concerns."
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1821
There are few things in life that compel us to examine our own mortality. The cancer cell is definitely one of them. It does not care if you are white or black, young or old, pious or not. It is relentlessly indifferent. One thing that is universal, however, is that its detection initiates a monumental struggle--physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It can drive families apart or bring them closer. It can create gruesome physical distress that eats at one's core. It can tear people away from religion or bring them closer to their faith. The people in these photographs are just like you and I. They have families, careers, hopes, dreams, and fantasies. But they have also been diagnosed with cancer. While this has changed their lives, it does not by itself define who they are -- they are grandfathers and daughters and wives and brothers first. And so I give you these portraits of vastly different people who share one common element. They all have been told at some point in their lives that they harbor cancer cells that may threaten their own existence. And they each have responded with fortitude. I have been privileged to be able to peek into these people's lives with my camera.
-Vatsal G. Thakkar, M.D., The Fortitude Photo Exhibit, Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, 2004
Click the photo to see the Fortitude exhibit
Fortitude: Photos by Vatsal G. Thakkar, M.D.
Precipitation: C. Bennett Harrison, Jr.
Ben busily buzzes around an office suite with some dramatic views on a daily basis. The day of the shoot, I made him give me a tour. The captured images which followed produced one of my favorites from this series. Ben was noticeably apprehensive when asked to sign the photo release forms. I personally thought it was good empathy training for him—as an attorn
Steadfast: Neil Diehl
Neil is a delightfully welcoming man, who quickly revealed to me that his wife had also struggled with cancer and succumbed to it several years ago. As we toured his luxurious home, every nook and cranny uncovered a new story about her--she had put sizable effort into creating their space. The clock in Helpful Hands is one that Neil salvaged from the demolition of a bridge--mo
Spiritual Study: Mary Kelton Smith, R.N. (w/ son, James)
Mary came prepared. She had dressed herself and her son impeccably. I had asked for some props and she brought the perfect ones. After trying several ideas and striking out, Mary mentioned that she had brought her bible. The problem was that after seventy-one shots, I only had one frame of film left. But sometimes one is all that’s needed--it
Fraternal Four: Don Lancaster, Robb Kerr, Dana Allen & Harold Bridges
From their chemistry, one could easily believe that these four were brothers, but their only connection was colon cancer. Since I had never worked with a group this large, the first few photos were duds. I quickly learned that I should take myself out of the equation and let them focus on each other. Once I did that, I got this b
Effervescence: Melissa W. Kimbro & Jimmie D. White
When I went to Melissa’s home, I realized that I was getting a two-for-one deal. Melissa wanted to pose with her father, Jimmie, who had also battled cancer. We utilized an empty tennis court in their neighborhood where the two of them wasted no time catching up with each other--a conversation long overdue. For most of the shoot I doubt they realiz
Rocky & Rebecca: Rebecca Salomon & Rocky
As Becky posed for the photos, her younger sister was making faces at her. Instead of letting this be a distraction, I had her channel this amusement into her pose for Fall Frolic. The smile on Becky’s face was only outdone when she was holding her dog, Rocky, in her arms. Becky appears in Fall Frolic and Rocky & Rebecca.