A story of miracles, love, & profound connection

The story of how Joan Marie came to her parents, is one of heartbreaking trials and astounding miracles. She was named after four powerful strong women: firstly her grandmothers, Joan Marie and Joan Mary, as well as Joan of Arc and the blessed mother Mary. When Mark and Catherine brought her home from the hospital, Catherine recalled thinking, “I want to remember all of this because I know it is not forever.” Catherine has photographed Joan Marie with a conviction ever since.

When Joan Marie was just two years old, Catherine was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent treatments that made it virtually impossible to have another baby. “I thought I would have another chance at it, but that didn’t work out. So, she’s it. She’s my one indulgence.” After a year of both mother and daughter being cared for by someone else, Catherine’s cancer went into remission, “there was no way I was not going to see this kid grow up.”

As we visited in the studio, Catherine sat with now 16 year old Joan Marie by her side. “I always thought I would have more than one [child],” she said, “so having her was even more meaningful. She was a gift from God. She was a miracle baby.”

Listen to Catherine's extraordinary story below.