For Kansas University photography student Megan Bigbee, telling the story of some local cancer survivors made a significant impact not only her photography, but also on her life.
“I left there completely inspired,” Bigbee said of the collaborative project, “Stories of Survival.”
Bigbee was one of a dozen KU photo media students who worked with Lawrence Memorial Hospital last semester chronicling the stories of people who had survived cancer. As part of the project, students spent time with cancer survivors, capturing their stories in photos, videos and in-depth interviews.
This series will run during the next several weeks.
Bigbee spent her semester working with two women who survived breast cancer.
“As a young woman, I thought ‘wow,’” Bigbee said.
The project began when a cancer patient approached Kathy Clausing-Willis, LMH vice president and chief development officer, about creating a calendar of inspiring cancer stories. The project eventually evolved into a semester of work with KU.
The goal was to give cancer patients hope, Clausing-Willis said.
“When people are told they have cancer, they think they’re going to die,” she said. “We want people not to be given a death sentence.”
The stories will be displayed in a long hallway in LMH’s oncology unit.
While the project was meant to inspire cancer patients, Bigbee’s experience was an example of the impact the series had on the students, said KU professor and cancer survivor Greg Thomas.
Thomas helped coordinate the project along with class instructor and former Journal-World deputy editor Bill Snead, who supervised the students.
“This was about understanding the human condition,” Thomas said. The students had to learn how to connect with patients in order to learn each survivor’s story.
“They came back from it different people,” he said.
Comments
LJWorld.com doesn’t necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy. Also, read about banned accounts and harassing comments.
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.