CAROLYN

Sometimes I feel like our lives are bigger than us.

I only met Carolyn two days ago but I haven't been able to stop thinking about her since. She is infectious in the best possible way.

Last Christmas, Kesh and I decided we wanted to run a giveaway. If you won, you had to select another to pass the giveaway onto. Emails started coming within minutes and immediately, I realised this giveaway was bigger than us.

After just two emails, I couldn't comprehend how we would make a selection. Ultimately, we prayed, read and went with our heart. And our hearts lead us to Carolyn, who has Gastroparesis, a medical condition that is very unkind. Carolyn isn't able to eat and even the smallest sip of water causes nausea and vomiting. For this reason, Carolyn carries a backpack holding specially formulated nutrients that require a feeding tube.

I'm not worthy to tell Carolyn's story. I've only known her a few days but I do feel like I know her.

Kesh came with me because I wanted her there.

Carolyn's arms were held out as I walked to her door.

"How are you feeling," I asked, hopefully.

"Good, I'm feeling great," Carolyn replied with a genuine but pained smile.

"She's a great liar," Carolyn's husband, Stuart, laughed.

I knew Carolyn couldn't be feeling well. She was scheduled to go back to hospital two days after our shoot so that her feeding tube could be repositioned in her stomach. This would mean the creation of a new hole and the tube being stitched there. As well as this, we had previously rescheduled our shoot because Carolyn hadn't been feeling well for the better part of the year.

To be honest, I didn't really know what to expect. What I found was an immediate friend. I found love like I haven't known. I found happiness when there is every reason not to be. I found a powerful woman, with a beautiful family who love her. I found hope.

The day after our shoot, Carolyn told me that she had deteriorated and had to leave for hospital earlier than expected. And that's where she is right now.

On Facebook, I've seen her updates from the bedside. Even while in enormous pain, awaiting surgery, positivity abounds.

Please click play to view the slideshow.



I know that Carolyn would love to read any kind words you might like to leave here, on the blog.

Music: American Beauty - Thomas Newman (available on iTunes) and Skinny Love - Bon Iver (available on iTunes).

CAROLYN | A SPECIAL SOUL

This is Carolyn - the most beautiful soul of whose warmth Kesh and I both felt yesterday.

In the next few days, I will be sharing images of her beautiful family, who I know will touch your heart. I only know this because Carolyn's story touched mine.

It's a special story. You can read it here.

Lynnie - if you see this before your operation, I want you to know that Kesh and I are thinking happy thoughts for you, and praying, too.

GIVEAWAY | ANNOUNCEMENT

It's late. My eyes are heavy and I'm tired but I want to get this out.

When Kesh and I decided to run a giveaway, we thought it through. We waited it out. We knew this was the time and we knew the only way to do it was for the gift to be given.

We thought we knew what we were doing.

Early on, maybe within hours of sending this live, I realised this was bigger than me, bigger than us.

I've seen tears roll down my wife's face, as I wiped away my own - your stories read aloud while we lay in bed. And then, when we woke, tear stained pillows and more stories. Each of them personal, filled with love and your own voices.

I didn't imagine, I didn't consider, I didn't think...

The way I viewed my life was never meant to change. It has though.

I seriously want to offer my thanks and gratitude for each email, comment and message we received. Again, this morning, Kesh and I read each one with the seemingly impossible task of making a choice.

And we have, we've made a choice.

Carolyn is a wife and mother of two girls, who lives with a rare disease called Gastroparesis, which paralyses the digestive system. There is no cure and the disease can be fatal.

Carolyn is unable to eat or drink, ever, and is kept alive through the constant use of a feeding tube.

Without her knowing, a beautiful friend tapped away at her keyboard and sent an email. That message has touched our hearts and in the New Year, I will knock on this family's door. Gratefully, I will take their photo and you will see in them what I already do.

Here are a few excerpts from the email we received:

Earlier this year, Lynnie had revolutionary surgery to place a gastric pacemaker in her stomach, which over time serves to reduce the constant nausea she experiences and improve other symptoms of the disease. She must have the pacemaker changed every 5 or so years. Each surgery costs $20K. Her health fund refused to pay given it was “experimental” surgery. 


Sadly, so far the pacemaker is not working as well as hoped and as such, the feeding tube must stay. Lynnie is still unable to eat or drink anything at all.


Lynnie’s world is her family… she has the most AMAZING husband Stu and two adorable little girls Kyra (5 years old) and Carys (3 years old). Lynnie lovingly calls them Peaches and Cream. Lynnie and Stu have been married for 8 years. Their love inspires all that know them.  Lynnie went through hell to bring their children into the world. Falling pregnant was easy for them, carrying the girls to full term was life-threatening to both Lynnie and the babies. She spent the latter part of both pregnancies in hospital unable to eat and on a drip, as her body was trying to reject the babies. Back then they didn’t know what was wrong with her. Determined as ever, she held on as long as she could with both girls, and both were born healthy. However the toll on her body afterwards was huge.


She loves to bake – not your average chocolate cake, no that’s too easy… AMAZING cakes with so much artistic detail. This past weekend, she and her little girls casually made a gorgeous Christmas Gingerbread House… just because.  Remember though, she is NEVER able to taste her cakes due to her illness. She simply does it to see the delight in others.


She used to LOVE to surf in the ocean, however with the feeding tube she is not allowed to go into the ocean at all. 


Only today she has been diagnosed with Pneumonia. Her status on Facebook totally sums Lynnie up… “Ok pneumonia... bring it!!! You don't know who you are messing with!!!!!”


See what I mean about my view on life changing?


Again, thank you to each person who submitted. 


From our hearts,
Tim and Kesh.


*Amber, who commented on the giveaway. Can you please email me?

CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY | ANNOUNCEMENT POSTPONED

Unfortunately, we won't be announcing the chosen family for our giveaway just yet.

This will now take place on December 28th. Entries are still closed - we just need a little longer to make certain our decision is the right one.

Apologies for the postponement.

Have a beautiful Christmas with the ones you love most.

Tim

A CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY

I've always been wary of giveaways. More so, I've always been cautious in relation to giving away my photography, my business, my livelihood. I feared that if I gave it away, somehow its value would be diminished.

That's why I'm not giving it away.

You are.

If you are selected as the winner of this giveaway, you do not keep the prize. The redemption is for another. Someone you love and care for. Someone you believe is so deserving, you would rather the offering be theirs.

The giveaway is a family shoot. To anyone, anywhere in the world. My travel costs are mine.

There are no strings. You don't need to retweet, follow along, or blog about it (you are more than welcome to but it's not part of the giveaway).

You only need to do one thing: tell me someone's story.

Tell me about a family. Tell me about a family you love with your whole heart. And most importantly, tell me why they should have this.

Kesh and I will read your comments and emails. We will make a selection based on what we feel in our hearts. Nothing more, nothing less.

Tell me your story below, in the comments section, or if you would prefer, send an email to hello@timcoulson.com

Merry Christmas.


Terms of Giveaway
Entries are open effective immediately and close at 8:00am December 20, 2011 (Sydney, Australia time). The winning family will be announced Christmas Day.
The photo shoot will occur at a time and date that Tim Coulson is available and must be redeemed within 12 months.
The winning family will receive a disc of approximately 200 images in print and web resolutions, as well as an online slideshow. No prints are included.

The photo shoot will run for approximately two hours, unless otherwise agreed to.

For clarification on any details, email hello@timcoulson.com