Hope and happiness with Claire

 

Madame La Comtesse de Ségur titled one of her famous books: “Apres la pluie le beau temps”, which means: “after the rain comes beautiful weather”.  Fred and Wade have just gone through a very rough stormy year.  Claire is the sunshine, the epic beautiful beginning that marks the end of the hardship. I remember just last Spring, Fred calling me with news from back home: her older sister, Veronique was diagnosed with breast cancer. Through their family ran an unusual history of female cancer, prompting the sisters to be tested for the BRCA1 gene. Both were found positive. Fred, had recently weaned Isabelle, and was focused on growing her family. Suddenly that little lump she had been feeling could no longer be ignored and plans of an other baby had to be placed on hold. While doctors in France hospitalized Veronique, discovering the extent of her condition, metastases to the liver, bones and lungs, Fred too, was caught in the diagnostic process here. With each test result came the need for further invasive investigation. I waited anxiously for each result but every call brought more bad news. Once, Fred asked if I was sitting down, because this last piece of information warranted it. I couldn’t imagine what more this family could bear. Fred was taking every discovery with remarkable stoicism, being away from her family, hiding her own illness to them for a while, but the treatment offered to her, which left no hopes for an other baby was devastating. And this phone call. I took the time to sit down as advised and Fred announces “I’m pregnant!” A surge of happiness, immediately crushed: a mastectomy ahead of her, possible radiation and chemo….What were they thinking??? A new life should always be joy, it was just what Fred had been expecting a week before. And yet, here is Claire, a beautiful healthy little girl, Fred and Wade’s miracle.basket3
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Fred is the Dune Doctor, you may have seen her truck out on the beach.  She plants sea oats along the cost, restoring dunes.  It was natural to have a picture of Claire by the water with sea oats.
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Isabelle is just a little over 2 years old and oh so sweet!
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She thought I was so funny with my animal’s impressions…
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Probably my favorite image:) Oh! I wish I had a similar image of my girls at that age!
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The complete family:)
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Veronique’s condition worsened. After her mastectomy, Fred was finally able to go visit her in the summer. 4 days after Fred arrived in France, Veronique passed away. Fred’s treatment “only” required surgery. Now that she’s delivered Claire, she is still facing more preventive surgeries and reconstructive ones. In the fall, Wade’s mother passed away after years of battling ovarian cancer. It’s been a stormy year. Claire’s story is an unusual one. Her life brings such joy and hope for a brighter future.
She’s unaware of this difficult journey, pure innocence
4This is a special post to me, because this family is so dear to me.  It has also been a year since I “blogged”.  Wade consistently has asked me to keep my blog going.  I am always very flattered that he would care enough to mention it.  Wade, you had to be my first post, on this brand new revisited web/blog site!

5 Comments

  1. by laura balters on March 14, 2014  7:37 am Reply

    Let me be the first to say that you, my dear cousin are an amazing woman, wife & mother. So proud of you in so many ways!! Looking forward to the blog again. Love you ♡♡

  2. by Lori Perkins on March 14, 2014  8:35 pm Reply

    You are amazing Arielle! Beautiful and talented photographer. Awesome story teller and blogger! Fabulous mom and wife! You are beautiful inside and out! Glad to call you my friend.

  3. by Frederique Beroset on April 4, 2014  12:11 pm Reply

    It is hard to find words….! None seem adequate. Thank you doesn’t quite cut it. You have been present in so many of my life’s biggest moments. You have been treasured as a fellow French expat, and loved as a friend for many years :-)
    What a year you have now shared with us!!! 2014 has surely brought some happier moments. What a beautiful synopsis you are giving here and what amazing pictures again you capture. My girls are my sunshine and my rainbow, and my husband the rock I have so much needed this past year! I am grateful for all the support, kindness and generosity so many showed. Thank you for all those happy times and fabulous memories. You are an amazing artist and a beautiful soul!!!

  4. by Keith Seamons on April 6, 2014  11:22 am Reply

    Your pictures and story are amazing. I am very proud to know Frederique and Wade and to have had the priveledge of helping them with the next stage of their life and family in working on their new home. My family and I wish them the best.

  5. by Mikael on April 6, 2014  9:15 pm Reply

    Dear Arielle,
    You probably don't remember me but we met during Fred and Wade Wedding. I'm amator in Photography so very interested in you work. And each occasion I had to see a part Fred and Wade histroy imortalized by you, I felt very impressed. Once again, your photos are amazing !!!!
    But this time, the text you have written about Fred and Wade Nightamre gives another dimension. It is soul-moving !!!!!
    Fred, Wade, Isavelle and Clair, we whish you all the best, beatifull French/American family !!!

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