MiKyla
Late Sunday night I got a text message from Ashley Babb with a very special request. In October 2008 MiKyla Pickering was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Since then this, now- 11 year old, little girl has been fighting this disease with unbelievable strength and bravery. A couple of weeks ago a bone marrow biopsy didn’t come back with results they were hoping for and they are now looking into a clinical trial, pending some blood results. Ashley wanted to surprise MiKyla and her mom by setting up a little photo shoot and wanted to know if it would be possible to do it before they leave for MiKyla’s Make a Wish trip to Disney World later this week! After some quick thinking and figuring around their schedule we planned to meet. Ashley went to work on gathering props for MiKyla. Things that really represented her personality; bright, fun, happy, funky.. etc. Ashley babysat MiKyla when she was little and I can clearly see how much she loves this family. MiKyla, Kenda and the rest of their family are blessed to have such great friends.
MiKyla is a GORGEOUS, sweet little girl who I’m blessed to have gotten to meet. Please keep MiKyla and her family in your prayers as she continues to fight this.
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These are her beads of courage. Each color represents something different. (Getting blood drawn, etc.) This isn’t even all of them!!!
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Ashley and MiKyla
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This is the tattoo Ashley got. She told me that she had thought about getting a tattoo but wasn’t sure.. she was worried about putting something permanent on her body. But when she got the idea of getting THIS tattoo… there was no question in her mind. :)
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MiKyla and her mom! Beautiful girls!!
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I love absolutely everything about this image.
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Angie S - So beautiful, so strong and such a fighter! These are great Tara. The pics of her and Kenda are fabulous!
Jan Marie Gibbs - This post really touched my heart. They say the eyes are the windows to the soul. Hers are illuminated with love, hope and courage. She truly is one of God’s special angels. I will keep her and her family in my prayers. Beautiful photos…beautiful girl.
Reagan - these are amazing! she is amazing!
Amanda - These pictures are beautiful! I love the props! I will definitely be keeping her and her family in my thoughts!
Shanna - These pictures are BEAUTIFUL!!! Mikyla is gorgeous, we are praying for her and will keep praying for her and her family!!!!!
Teresa - OMG–these are AWESOME!!!! Her eyes are sooooo gorgeous. Thank you Tara for sharing these. Many prayers to her and her family.
Katha - THESE ARE GREAT!!! EVERY SINGLE ONE!!!!!!!!!
amber - Wow the just reading the story made me tear-up shes such a beautiful little girl. I will keep her and her family in my prayers.
CeLeSte* - I love these pictures. They are precious!
Heather B - These are beautiful Tara <3
Rachel Stewart - LOVE this post! Not only because you captured memories that will be forever with this family, but also because she is such a beautiful little girl. Ash did and amazing job with the props. I’m sure this pumped her up a little more to keep on fighting. Her family will definitely be in my prayers. Cancer is such a horrible disease but because of people like you and Ashley who care so much, she has a fighting chance. ; )
Jennifer - MiKyla is a brave little girl….my prayers are with this precious family….thanks for sharing….love every single picture…..they are AWESOME!
Elise Dodson - this is absolutely amazing Tara.. She is such a beautiful girl and you can tell how amazing she is by just looking at these pictures.. Love every single one of them.. Will be keeping her and her family in my paryers!!
Karon - What a beautiful face! Wonderful moments caught in time!
Karon - Karon: What a beautiful girl! What lovely memories caught on camera.
TaylorMcKinney - What a gorgeous girl she is! Each picture is amazing. Love her style and glittery eye makeup. ;) My prayers are with her and her family.
Jenn - This little girl is just beautiful.. the pictures turned out wonderful
Jan - She is truly an inspiration….prayers are flooding heaven for her. The courage, strength and love you see in her eyes is simply mesmerizing!!
Haley - She is absolutely gorgeous! Her strength & story inspires me. Wonderul job on the props & clothes! The pictures are adorable.
Stephanie - Tara, as always your pics ROCK!!! But you have captured so much in this beautiful young lady! As you know, I am also the mom of a child with special needs and it is amazing to know how much they LOVE having their pics done and look SO grown up and you give us such memories of their personality, they are priceless! Mikyla and Melissa have SOOOOO much in common! The zebra, pink, spunk, personality, and joy in front of the camera!
LOVE the pink chandelier!!!! Have been looking for one like that for over a year now!!!
Bonny Jo - Tara these are wonderful. So is this girl. You always know how to capture the eyes. I love these pictures and I love how this girl is rockin the bald head. Cool props. So glad you take time to do things like this you are such a delight. I hope all the best for MiKyla and her family.
Erica Hignight - What a beautiful beautiful girl! I love all of the colors and EVERYTHING about these images. Our prayers are with her and her family.
Shelly Boles - Tara..beautiful post..and especially beautiful girl!! I loved every single pic and her eyes are breathtaking!!
Paige - Tara, these images are amazing. You captured something special…a treasure. I have known Kenda, seems like forever…and when I look at Mikyla, I see so much Kenda. Beautiful. Thank you for giving them this gift.
Paige
Liz Marie Rascon - These are amazing and beautiful. I loved them all. Mikyla has a strong soul. I can see it through her smile. My prayers are with her and her family :)
Sara - Amazing pictures and what an AMAZING little girl. These really show how beautiful she really is. She and her family will definitely be in my prayers. :)
Pam - What a beautiful girl with a great sense of style too! She will be in my thoughts and prayers. These pictures are priceless!
Tweets that mention Shares Some Amazing Photographs of MiKyla Pickering with her at -- Topsy.com - […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Beads of Courage. Beads of Courage said: @taraswain Shares Some Amazing Photographs of MiKyla Pickering with her @BeadsofCourage at http://www.taraswainblog.com/?p=10804 […]
Brandi - Amazing! These pictures are beautiful.
Kelly Franz - These are gorgeous!MiKyla is such a beautiful girl:-) What a wonderful gift for this famliy. Your work is amazing!
Rachel - She’s so beautiful!!!
We’ll be praying for you!!!
“I am the LORD, your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you” Isaiah 41:13
Nikki Moss - You have done such a sweet and special thing for this family. The pics are breathtaking and with each picture I could not help but say a prayer! Thank you so much for sharing them!!
Rachael - This pictures are so beautiful! They capture her boldness, her bravery and even her beauty! I am a photographer as well and this images struck me differently…its like i can sense the emotion through this photoshoot. She is in my prayers..thank you for sharing!
Breanne - I love everything about these pictures. I even teared up looking at them. Mikayla looks so beautiful in every single one of them. always praying for her.
Breanne - I love everything about these pictures. I even teared up looking at them. Mikyla looks so beautiful in every single one of them. always praying for her.
Debbie Allred - Beautiful pictures!! She is such a strong and AMAZING girl!!!
Terri Leigh - Thank you for sharing these beautiful pictures. They are such a blessing and an awesome treasure for everyone who has been touched by this sweet family.
Kelly - Beautiful!! She is so Beautiful!!! Thanks for sharing!!
Lindsay - These are amazing! Love them all!
Jenna Snider - This brought me to tears, This is so amazing Tara. One of my good friends who is 23 with a one year old baby was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer this week. This photo shoot is awesome and shows how much a fighter this little girl is! She will def. be in my prayers!
Jenna Snider - This brought me to tears! Not only because of this little girls strength and courage but because I had a close friend, who is 23 and has a one-year-old baby, diagnosed with lymphoma cancer. Tara you are so so awesome and your special gift has blessed more people than you will ever imagine! I will definitely have to show these to Rachel, hopefully it will lift her spirits and show her how beautiful cancer can be! =)
Crystal - These pictures made me smile and cry at the same time! She is absolutely beautiful…AMAZING AMAZING!!
Norma Carey - Such a perfect soul reflecting God to all of us. The pictures are astonishing. Mikyla – you are a jewel!
John Plail - Wow great work, I love the all the vibrant colors and life in the subjects eyes. Kudos.
Cynthia - These are perfect. What an amazing little girl!
Desiree - These pics made me cry..Not of sadness but of what true Beauty is. We live our lives wishing for so many things like straight hair not cury, Long not short..Dark tan not pale, blue eyes not brown..When You look at these photos (black And White or In Color) all you see is what A Beautiful person Mikyla is.
Jane - MiKyla, you are absolutely GORGEOUS!!!
Jane - I can see how brave and positive you are and what strength you have. My son, Mcguyre, has ALL too. We pray for you every single night. I showed McGuyre your picture and he thinks you are beautiful! Keep on fighting and never ever give up! May God bless you and your family.
Rhonda - So glad you were able to do this for this beautiful girl. She’ll be in my thoughts and prayers. What a gorgeous young lady!!!
Mandy - Amazing pictures. Amazing young lady. LOVE these. They are absolutely perfect!
Minda - Tara- I am a blog stalker of yours (aka….i check ur blog every day to see if somethin new has been posted) and this blog is by far the best one you have EVER done. Thank you so much for posting these and for capturing her beauty. Best. Blog. Ever.
kadazsha - love the images of mikyla!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stephanie - Thank-you to you and her family for sharing these absolutely beautiful photos. Her journey, courage and faith have been an inspiration to all of us who love and pray for this family. The look captured in her eyes has lifted me up! Mikyla you are AWESOME!!
Melissa - She is absolutly gorgeous!!!! :)
rachel - tara amazing job… mikyla is stunning in these and is surrounded by sooo much love, keep fighting girl.
“for i know the plans i have for you, declares the lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” jeremiah 29:11
Anny - Wow! Tara and Mikyla both ROCK!!!!
Gareth Robins (Auckland Wedding Photographer) - These are amazing, she’s a gorgeous girl, so brave.
New Angel » Tara Swain Photography Blog - […] eyes. Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers. You can view more pictures of MiKyla HERE. Feel free to leave some encouraging words for Mikyla’s family on her WEBSITE […]
Matt Baeza - She is truly a beautiful, young, strong girl. When I heard that she passed it truly felt like something was torn out of me. She actually brought a lot of people together not only in Paris, Texas, but in other places too. She is truly a remarkable girl. These pictures are outstanding! She is precious. I just know that she’s in heaven – much better place than Paris, TX. She is no longer sick nor in pain. She is free at last. May God bless your family, MiKyla! You are truly in [my] heart. :^)
Cari - She is breathtaking. You did a wonderful job at capturing every beautiful inch of her! The props are way too cute! :)