Happy Father’s Day! 

I have wonderful men in my life who are all great fathers – my husband, my father, my brother, my father-in-law and brother-in-laws, etc. I hope they all know how I feel about them after all these years. This Father’s Day, however, I want to honor a father not related to me.

Here’s a little background information first. I remember receiving a phone call 11 years ago telling me about an accident that a high school friend had been in. It was a scary moment for me that I will never forget, but luckily my friend, Mike Moran, survived this tragic accident, but not without harm–he completely lost his left hand and half his arm. Yet, after all he has been through, he has accomplished so much and I believe he has become a better man. I wanted to share a little bit of his story and the courageous path he has been on since this accident, but most importantly where he is today as a husband and father. I was lucky enough to photograph him with his gorgeous family a couple of weeks ago, so here is my interview with him and some photos from their session.

Interview with Mike:

Karina:  Can you share with me a little bit about your accident?

Mike:  On May 6, 2000, I was painting a farmhouse {on an aluminum ladder}. I guess this accident was part of my destiny to be, even after safety precautions. Unfortunately, I was electrocuted with 4800 volts when my ladder touched a powerline. I had several wounds, 40% of my skin had third degree burns and I could not let go of the ladder until basically my left hand exploded from the high voltage. I went into cardiac arrest after the electricity basically killed me from the inside out; I won’t describe in detail what exactly happened to me, but it was awful. 911 was called and I was escorted by ambulance to Sparrow hospital where my wife Tanya was an RN. She had just gotten off of work when I was brought in. On the way to the hospital, the EMT’s strapped me in; I woke up and violently broke all the straps. I guess it really freaked them out because later I found out they both quit after my accident. When I arrived to the hospital, I was screaming, “I don’t want to die! I don’t want to die!”, but I was starting to anyways. A life flight was dispatched from U of M and I was packed in an ice bathtub. I had 25 surgeries from this incident.

It was said that I survived due to the fact that I was a body builder/powerlifter. It was a catch 22 however, because having that much muscle damaged myoglobin in my bloodstream, it forced me into multi- organ failure as well, but on the other hand my physical condition had saved me, the doctors told me. This was only the beginning of the trauma – following seven more years of pain, mostly physical, some emotional and even spiritual. It was a maze to find my way out of this.

Karina:  I remember seeing you shortly after the accident, walking in town and your spirits were so positive. Since then whenever I see you, you always have a smile on your face. You seem happy and I love that because it’s contagious. Tell me why this is and where all that positive energy is coming from.

Mike:  GOD. I think that after such pain and trauma, and you finally get over it – your happy just “to be”.

Karina:  In high school you were labeled as a jock, body builder, bad ass; you were a tough guy. Are you still that tough guy? And in what ways?

Mike:  I think the dedication it took to be an athlete helped me persevere the aftermath of this. I would say yes it was a tragedy, but I would be damned if I went through this event and did not try to find some positive thing out of it. I gained a greater spirituality in God, discovered new things about my own character, gained a deeper empathy and compassion for others. I am perhaps more protective and I try to value every moment I can to a deeper level.

Karina:  What’s the best part about being a dad?

Mike: The love you receive from your kids and the love you give to them. Watching them experience all the things you once did is like replaying a movie.

Karina:  You have a beautiful wife, Tanya, who has stuck by your side. Tell me how lucky you are.

Mike:  We have been married 15 years and together for 20 this summer. Tanya has supported me through the thickest pain and depression. I am so thankful for her – I smother her with affection. If she wasn’t there, I would not be where I am now. I am so thankful to have Tanya in my life. I can honestly say I am even more in love with her than the beginning it seems. Thank God for her standing by my side, giving me advice and keeping me in line.

Karina:  Looking back to the day of the accident and then seeing where you are today, is this where you had hoped to be? And 10 years from now, what do you see?

Mike:  I have been through 7 years of pain so intense, I literally wanted to die. I have had heartache, loss of identity, struggled with my belief in God, struggled with my loss physically. Actually, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I am HAPPY. I envision more success and goals of mine to come to reality. One of my gifts has been VISION on an ideal or a reality that I would like to mainfest. I am hoping that I will be able to continue to do the things I love. If you have happiness, what don’t you have?

Karina: Recently you shared with me some remarkable news about the possibility of being considered a candidate for a new device called “bio-artificial neuromuscular junction”, through the University of Michigan, where your nerves could be connected to this device then move through your prosthesis, and you could possibly operate your hand like normal. What are your thoughts on this awesome news?

Mike:  I think it would be the closest thing to a miracle I could experience on this earth. I wouldn’t know how to feel and react if I could feel and sense a hug with two hands again. It would really be beyond comprehension for me. I find it really amazing that they are considering me actually.

“It’s easier to understand the physical trauma of losing a limb, but the emotional and pyschological loss is equally as devastating. Think of how the touch of someone you love holding your hand makes you feel. To regain motor function and feeling… it would be beyond words and emotions that I know how to describe.” Quote from the U of M article, Cederna Research Story, In the Loupes.

Karina:  What do you hope to have taught your children throughout all of this? How do you most want them to remember you?

Mike:  Through adversity, pain and trials that will happen in your life, you can still come out successful if you keep pushing.

So there it is, Mike’s story. I was so honored that he trusted me enough to share a part of his life story with me. I wanted to give him a little surprise, so I asked his wife and kids to answer a question for me:

What makes your dad/husband, Mike, a good dad or husband?

Michael:  My dad has always been there to help me with any problems or questions I have. He helps me to see the bigger picture. I know I can come to him. He has taught me to enjoy life.

Taylor:  My dad is the best dad because he always plays games with me and acts funny while playing. He tries to change the rules.

Madison:  My dad takes me to the movies when nobody else will. He plays games with me. It is fun when he plays. He is the best dad ever.

Tanya:  Mike is dedicated to our family. He enjoys spending “family time” together. Since his accident he has tried his best to stay positive, he has a great sense of humor and is the first one to joke about himself. He has a way of putting people at ease. Mike is hard working and is driven to do the very best. He is always looking for ways to improve on himself. I’m proud of all the things he has accomplished over the years. He has had to overcome enormous struggles, but has become a better husband and father because of it.

     This is a wonderful family who I wanted to celebrate this Father’s Day. As you can see, Mike is a unique individual who has overcome adversity and found the pleasure in living each day. He loves his family and is just happy to be here with them, and I am so happy that he is, too. Thank you Mike for sharing your story with me and for your continued friendship. Happy Father’s Day, Mike.

Day 16: I am thankful for my oldest daughter, Kayla, and her smarts. By this I mean, she is a great student, always has been, but the relief we feel by her keeping on top of things preparing for college – this is wonderful!

Day 17: I am so thankful for http://thepioneerwoman.com because this woman is hilarious and a fantastic cook! I get recipes from her all the time, and some I change up a bit, but I always can get good ideas on what to prepare for dinner that night; and yesterday when I read her chicken quesadilla recipe, I about peed my pants laughing out loud to her story that went along with her recipe. Yup, I said it, PEED, almost; so for sure Ree, thank you, you rock!

I am thankful for:

1. My beautiful family, Nathan, Kayla, Bella and Lenny  2. for the awesome and crazy family and friends I have, who always leave me with a smile on my face  3. the gift of artistry, in becoming a photographer; I have always loved it, just never thought I would be doing it as a career, but so thankful that I am. 4. All of our pets, who love me unconditionally and show me whenever I walk in the door – Buddy, Angel, Shadow, Blue and LuLu. 5. the wonderful free country that we live in for all its blessings that we are given and for the peace I hope we all will one day have. 6. our home and property that we get to raise our family in. 7. God and all his beauty who teaches us to love and accept everyone and treat others the way we want to be treated. 8. my good health and body which still allows me to have fun and dance like nobody’s business 9. My mamma’s good cooking! 10. the laughter I hear from each one of my children which sometimes brings me to tears because it is so beautiful 11. the musical talent that my kids have been blessed with which always lights up our home 12. my husband who always cleans the kitchen from top to bottom after meals and then some, and is a hard worker 13. my slippers that warm my feet each fall and winter day. 14. technology which allows me to keep in touch with friends all over the world. 15. finally making the time to type this up, so that I can start with day 16 tomorrow!   

I’ll continue tomorrow and maybe throw in a photo or two. Until then, Be kind to one another…as the lovely Ms. Ellen DeGeneres says each day after her show!

It’s that time of year…when beautiful colors align the tree tops, hot cider and cinnamon donuts fill our belly, the smell of apple pie lingers in the air,  and yes, holiday portrait time. I love Autumn! My favorite season, mostly because of the colors that slowly change on the trees, yet quickly leave us. Time does that, just goes by so fast. So think about your family portrait or children’s portrait; when was the last time you had them taken, a true portrait? Please don’t say 10 years ago, lie to me please! It is soooo important to document your family today and your children today, to keep these memories alive for many years to come. THIS weekend, October 9th, I am having PORTRAITS in the PARK at the Howell City Park better known as the Howell Beach, Thompson Lake. I am only having this for one day, and only 10 open spots, so it’s first come, first serve…hate to put it that way, but it’s true. IF you want to get more bang for your buck (’cause we all want that with this economy), this weekend is the time to do it. This is for the family who wants to show off some photos in beautiful holiday cards AND get some prints for the home too, or better yet, to gift over the holidays. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE sending out my family’s holiday card and have had such great feedback from them, so I would love to help you with your holiday cards. Read below and then call me or email me, 517-546-6654 or karina@karinagphotography.com to book now! The session fee is due right way, so have that credit card handy. Once we make contact I will fill you in with all the details. I look forward to talking to you, but mostly capturing your family with my camera!!

Here are a few shots from Cody’s full session, a couple of weeks back. You might remember him from past photos, since he is one of my Senior Model Reps for this year. Cody, I hope you got some sleep after this session
I do like how they turned out; hope you do too. More to come later. Enjoy! (Leave a comment if you like his photos.)

Cody is on Howell’s wrestling team. Be sure to go out and support him and his team this year!

I hope everyone will go out and do something for someone else, even in the littlest way. Pay it forward to someone else, and I guarantee you it will come back to you. God Bless!

I cannot imagine not having photographs of my kids, especially high school senior photos. My oldest two kids are ready to embark onto the real world, getting ready to spread their wings and fly, soar to their future. And I want to have documentation of who they are today, to be able to look back on those photographs of my babies and smile or cry. Unfortunately, there are others who won’t be able to do this due to finances or personal circumstances. So, I want to help. I have thought about doing this for some time now, but a good friend of mine, Marci Ralph, who recently did this too, encouraged me to follow through. So here we go. I am announcing my first PAY IT FORWARD FRIDAY giveaway to a deserving 2011 graduating high school senior!! The giveaway will include a full senior session, studio and outdoors (1.5 hours) and a $500 portrait package!

Here’s how it will work: There are too many circumstances that can prevent one from getting senior portraits done. A family provider could be laid off, there could be medical issues in the family, or just plain having financial setbacks. Tell me about it. Are you a 2011 Senior who deserves this opportunity? Tell me why and nominate yourself. Do you know someone who deserves this but might be a bit humble to tell me their story? Nominate them by telling me their story and why they deserve this. I want all high school seniors to have photographs to capture their memories of today! They all have the right to enjoy the experience of having their senior photos taken, in a studio who really cares about them, who wants to laugh with them and help make their senior year memorable! Send me an email to karina@karinagphotography.com and in the subject line put Pay it Forward Friday Seniors and then tell me your story, at least a few paragraphs (not pages please), then their name, high school they attend, and city they live in and who is nominating them and relationship to them. All entries must be in by next Thursday, May 20, 2010. We will review all nominations and the winner will be announced here on our blog and on Facebook next Friday, May 21st, hence the name Pay it Foward FRIDAY!!! The senior photo session will take place in June or July of 2010.

I look forward to reading the entries. Now go and do something nice for someone, pay it forward; it will always come back to you!

And here she is with the snake. I figured I’d better photograph it because I will never be that close to a snake again! lol

It is hard to believe that 17 years ago today, at 9:11 a.m., our little princess Kayla was born. Looking back through the memories, through photos of course, I honestly do not know where the time went. Kayla was born strong and determined, confident she could accomplish anything she set her mind too. “Anything her brother Nathan could do, she could do better”; that was her motto. Lenny and I loved watching the two of them grow up so close in age because they were the best of friends; but like most friendships, there were ups and downs. But eventually they would find their way back to each other, happy as can be. Kayla has brought so much laughter and joy to this family, and looking back, I love to remember the times I spent dancing with her, hugging and kissing her, when she really didn’t care who was watching. Those were some of the best times of my life; being her mother and her best friend. If I could have bottled those special moments up to hold on to forever, and bring them back out when times were tough, I would. Relationships get complicated, for many different reasons; and not having control over that is a very hard thing to deal with. I guess growing up I never realized how hard being a mother would be, not just dealing with all that came with children, but the heartache that came with every little thing your child, your baby, ever would go through.

Kayla has grown up to be such a beautiful young lady, one who my husband still doesn’t want to see as a young woman. He, as well as I, will always look at her as the spunky little girl who would dress up in my shoes and clothes and sing the ANNIE song for money. She will always be our little princess who loved to wrestle and beat up her brother, or jump off of ledges and sprain her ankle just to say she did it. Even though we don’t always see eye to eye all the time, we will always love her: we love you Kayla. Being a teenager now is much more difficult then when we were in school; way tougher. There is way more ugly out in the world unfortunately, and as your parents we can’t always be there to protect you from all of it. We try, oh how we try. It is so not easy for us, for any parent to see that it is not up to us anymore. The hardest thing a parent has to do is let go. And right now, I am not ready. Don’t think I ever will be. It hurts too much. BUT, I am open to talking about it, and trying to get comfortable with just the thought of it. GASP, that is hard to even think of. But Kayla, you are and have always been the most important thing to us, yes, along with your brother and sister; period. Today, tomorrow and forever, you will always be our baby, our little girl. We hope that life brings you only the best things, and that you will truly follow your heart and your dreams, but most of all that you will believe in yourself and in us. I know to you it may not always seem fair, and that I do make mistakes and am not the perfect mother, but Kayla honey, please trust in God and in the love that dad and I have for you.

We know that the future is yours for the taking. I can promise you that we will always be here for you, no matter how complicated things may be; we will ALWAYS be here for you. Happy 17th Birthday Kayla!
Always, Mommy’s Little Angel! WE love you, MOM & DAD

Here’s Kayla and I 17 years ago.

Below, Kayla today