On November 22nd I put up a photo of my youngest son Ben in my second album, and shared his story.
One week, 427 views, 124 comments and 46 favs later you incredible people, put it on the PP, the Home Page and at 3rd place in the Top 20 for the week. You then managed to get him onto the PP with two more shots last week!
My whole family are overwhelmed by the reaction to Ben's photo and story. I have read every comment several times over, and am slowly but surely replying to every one of you.
Awesome. Love this low key portrait of him. Well done, Ben and dad! So glad to hear that you are Stovetop converts. Try the whole wheat variety. It is still delicious and healthier (no high fructose corn syrup).
So lovely to see his smiling face for the first time! Love how you have his face half in shadow Sean. I saw Ben had got in the Top 20, well done for that...he will have to go out in disguise soon!! LOL !
I never saw that picture Sean and story and for that as a follower and friend on this site I apologise to you. A fav for this one seems benial but accept it as an apology. Hopefully I will get a chance to meet your lovely family next year when the butterflies fly and we have a summer fitting of the name
@runningbk absolutely no need to apologise Mike, it was in one of my other albums, and it is almost impossible to keep up with everyone's work, however hard we try. I am definitely looking forward to our butterfly hunts next summer, and will have a lot more weekends free as my cricket teams will be playing on Mondays and Wednesdays. Cheers mate.
What a stunning portrait this is, Sean. I would so like to be able to master this kind of shot with that wonderful shadow. . .maybe your advantage is having this stunner of a young man so willing to be your model?? I think I definitely should have gotten bit by this bug long ago when the kids were all still at home!! Your sharing of Ben's story was one of the most honest portrayals of a family's love that I could ever have imagined.
Oooh very nice!! I think when you put your heart out there, Sean. People saw a whole different level to you... one I had seen before... but many had not. I've said this before... but I wish that my family when I was growing up... was half as good as yours and that my dad had been half the man and father you are. Now, choke back them there tears and smile ;)
I love this low key style, can't master it myself..... Have had several conversations with @fannyb re same! Another meaningful photo Sean, Ben is a little superstar......
@jackie8 Thanks Jackie, it is ever so easy. You need a strong light source from the side level with ear/cheekbone. I have a lastolight, but an anglepoise or even a bright torch would prob do it! Turn the lights off other than the light source (so best at night!) and then copy my exif. @fannyb
Fantastic portrait, love the smile and the lighting. I have so much respect for you and your amazing family Sean. Thanks for sharing. You brought a tear to my eye, joy to my heart and restored some faith in mankind :) Massive hugs and love to you and your beautiful family :)
@aprilmilani Hi April, how very kind of you. Ben is absolutely fine thanks. To the outside world he is a normal young man, but his condition does stop him doing certain things. We follow about a 5-6 year cycle with is big operations. He had one when he was just short of his first birthday, one when he was nealry 6 and one when he was 11, We have a big appointment at hospital in March and will see then what the future may hold, but we are hoping that open heart surgery does not have to happen too many times. I have my own private fears, but I have never really discussed these with anyone, they are just the fears of a parent who loves his children unconditionally and would do anything to keep them safe and healthy. Someone else who could use your prayers is my little friend Owen, see @reneeevans and www.owensstory.com
Thank you again, I am very touched by your post. You are a very kind hearted person to have kept us in your thoughts all this time. x
@seanoneill I so glad to hear how he is doing. On some level I know how yofu feel. My son Nathan has uncontrolled epilepsy. Last week we were told he has a 50/50 chance no matter what they do. But I know God has a plan for these special children. I will keep Ben in my prayers. He is so blessed to have such a fantastic Dad.
@aprilmilani Oh April, I am so sorry to hear about Nathan and his chances in life. That sounds just awful, and is just not fair. On many levels your circumstances are much worse than ours, as it seems like a ticking time bomb whereas with Ben we just about know the timescales to the next phase of treatment .
I think that children and parents who have to cope with major health issues see life with a different sense of perspective, and that is a gift actually, one that gives you a special intensity of love for each other that a normal healthy child and parent can't have. I don't quite share your faith I am afraid, but I do have faith in humankind. I think that we all have a responsibility to love and respect one another, in essence, live our lives well.
I do my utmost to be a good dad, and sometimes I am and sometimes I am not. Trying to impart wisdom onto teenage boys about their academic studies and how hard they should work is difficult. I so want both of my boys to fulfill their potential in life and seeing them falling short possibly creates some tension and makes me question if i am the great dad that folk think I am. Part of parenting is finding a way to impart wisdom without being on their case, and that is nigh on impossible at times!
Your family, and especially Nathan will be in my thoughts. Big hug x
January 23rd, 2013
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Good luck to him and to you moving forward!!
Thank you again, I am very touched by your post. You are a very kind hearted person to have kept us in your thoughts all this time. x
I think that children and parents who have to cope with major health issues see life with a different sense of perspective, and that is a gift actually, one that gives you a special intensity of love for each other that a normal healthy child and parent can't have. I don't quite share your faith I am afraid, but I do have faith in humankind. I think that we all have a responsibility to love and respect one another, in essence, live our lives well.
I do my utmost to be a good dad, and sometimes I am and sometimes I am not. Trying to impart wisdom onto teenage boys about their academic studies and how hard they should work is difficult. I so want both of my boys to fulfill their potential in life and seeing them falling short possibly creates some tension and makes me question if i am the great dad that folk think I am. Part of parenting is finding a way to impart wisdom without being on their case, and that is nigh on impossible at times!
Your family, and especially Nathan will be in my thoughts. Big hug x