Capturing The Moment Celebrates Cancer Survivors

Cancer survivors and their loved ones filled the Western Kentucky Botanical Garden in Owensboro on June 28 for a moving event called Capturing the Moment.

Capturing the Moment was started by Dr. Megan B. Nelson in 2017 to create a space to support, nourish, and empower cancer patients by providing free professional photography sessions for them and their loved ones. Dr. Nelson started this project after recalling her own experience with cancer and how she wished she had more pictures to document her journey. The photos help “capture a moment” in patients’ lives and create a snapshot in time that patients and their families can cherish for years to come. The photos capture smiles, tears, hugs, laughs, and many other memorable moments.

Heather Gray, Outpatient Counselor at the Owensboro Health Mitchell Memorial Cancer Center, knew she wanted to bring the event to Owensboro after working alongside its creator at U of L Brown Cancer Center. With the assistance of Nurse Navigators Colleen Brey and Deanna Young, and many gracious volunteers, Gray brought her dream to life. 

“Events like Capturing the Moment remind individuals of the importance of living, laughing and making time for the important things in life,” Gray said. “It is such an empowering moment when cancer survivors can tell their story.”

Capturing the Moment was equally crucial for staff volunteers. “We have an incredible group of employees who are truly dedicated to the patients they serve,” Gray said. “Working in an oncology setting is very rewarding, but it also can have an emotional impact on staff. Every day our staff cares for patients receiving test results, cancer treatment or those hospitalized. It was very powerful for our staff to see our Cancer Survivors smiling, laughing, and living!”

More than 30 volunteers from the MMCC, Inpatient Oncology, and the community, worked together for the 36 cancer survivors and 130 family members who attended Capturing the Moment. Seven local photographers - Dan and Dana Broman, Danielle Hayden, Deborah Duncan, Emily Evans, Lea Leach, Jesse & Megan, Roberts and Maria Clark – graciously donated their time and talent to make this evening possible.

One participant said:

“Thank you for our wonderful experience at Capturing the Moment. First off, it was very kind, considerate and pleasant experience for us (and the others I am sure). Such positivity makes us feel better. It was also a wonderful “excuse” to get my family back in Owensboro together. Finally, it was a very well done/planned/executed event. The setting was wonderful, the staff was super-positive and beyond helpful. I noticed that it was set up so that essentially all cancer patients could participate (even if mobility was an issue). My family and I express our sincere and unreserved gratitude.”

Photographers said:

“I’m really glad you asked me to do this…feels good to do something great for someone else!”

“We would like to thank you! The event was amazing, very well planned and organized, and the staff was awesome. Please keep us on the list for next year. Much Love.”

Staff volunteers said: 

“Honestly, probably one of the best and most rewarding events I’ve had the pleasure to be a part of.”

“We are extremely honored to be a part of such an amazing evening and impactful event! Seeing the smiles and hearing the laughter of not only our cancer survivors, but the volunteers as well, filled our hearts with so much joy.” - Nurse Navigators Colleen Brey and Deanna Young. 

Owensboro Health would like to thank the event coordinators, Colleen Brey, MMCC Nurse Navigator; Deanna Young, MMCC Nurse Navigator; and Heather Gray, MMCC Counselor.