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Archive 2015 · Matthew & Katia (and their 600K crowdfunded cancer cure)

  
 
FrancisK7
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Matthew & Katia (and their 600K crowdfunded cancer cure)


Mat and Kat are amazing. I first heard about them through my good friend Erika, who is Kat’s cousin. Last August, I was browsing Facebook when I saw one of her post. It brought me to a page that told the story of Matthew and Katia, high school sweethearts who had just gotten married in June 2014. Three days after they came back from their honeymoon, Mat started getting sick. In August they learned it was cancer. After multiple courses of chemo failed, they were forced to turn to an experimental treatment with a 90% success rate. However, it was only available in the United States. And it cost 600,000$ USD.

They didn’t give up. Kat rolled up her sleeves, tapped into her marketing genius and got the idea to start a crowdfunding campaign. They didn’t believe it would work at first, but they figured “maybe, just maybe.” The rest is history. They raised 830K after the campaign went viral.

Last week, a year later, it was announced Matthew was cancer free.

http://globalnews.ca/news/2257684/a-year-after-devastating-diagnosis-lavals-matthew-schreindorfer-free-of-cancer/

Today, we had a session to immortalize their love and victory.

1.
http://www.fk7photo.com/fm/mat&kat3/DSC_4141.jpg

2.
http://www.fk7photo.com/fm/mat&kat3/FK7_0774.jpg

3.
http://www.fk7photo.com/fm/mat&kat3/FK7_0778.jpg

4.
http://www.fk7photo.com/fm/mat&kat3/FK7_0781.jpg

5.
http://www.fk7photo.com/fm/mat&kat3/FK8_3632.jpg

6.
http://www.fk7photo.com/fm/mat&kat3/FK7_0783.jpg

7.
http://www.fk7photo.com/fm/mat&kat3/FK7_0796.jpg

8.
http://www.fk7photo.com/fm/mat&kat3/FK7_0815.jpg

9.
http://www.fk7photo.com/fm/mat&kat3/FK7_0826.jpg

10.
http://www.fk7photo.com/fm/mat&kat3/FK7_0829.jpg

11.
http://www.fk7photo.com/fm/mat&kat3/FK7_0833.jpg

12.
http://www.fk7photo.com/fm/mat&kat3/FK7_0842.jpg

13.
http://www.fk7photo.com/fm/mat&kat3/FK8_3652.jpg

14.
http://www.fk7photo.com/fm/mat&kat3/DSC_4242.jpg

15.
http://www.fk7photo.com/fm/mat&kat3/FK7_0851.jpg

16.
http://www.fk7photo.com/fm/mat&kat3/FK8_3656.jpg

17.
http://www.fk7photo.com/fm/mat&kat3/FK7_0859.jpg

18.
http://www.fk7photo.com/fm/mat&kat3/FK7_0863.jpg

19.
http://www.fk7photo.com/fm/mat&kat3/FK7_0874.jpg

20.
http://www.fk7photo.com/fm/mat&kat3/DSC_4286.jpg

21.
http://www.fk7photo.com/fm/mat&kat3/FK7_0889.jpg

22.
http://www.fk7photo.com/fm/mat&kat3/DSC_4306.jpg

23.
http://www.fk7photo.com/fm/mat&kat3/FK8_3678.jpg

24.
http://www.fk7photo.com/fm/mat&kat3/FK7_0907.jpg



Edited on Oct 12, 2015 at 02:53 PM · View previous versions



Oct 11, 2015 at 09:33 PM
glort
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Matthew & Katia (and their 600K crowdfunded cancer cure)



You Know I love you Francis but I have to be honest and say although the pics are beautiful, I think it is more because of the love and happiness this couple radiates than any outstanding photographic skill. To me it's the expression that makes these pics fantastic but it is to your credit that you captured it so clearly.

I think the colour in the shots and location is great and there is certainly a high standard of competence in the shots but the fact is you can't preface a set of pics like that and not have the photography over overshadowed by the story behind them. At least not for me.

That said, These pics are fantastic in the celebration of his life and their future you have captured. It's an infinitely better story than the last shoot I did for a woman with cancer who went from the shoot to the hospital and didn't recover.

It must be beyond words to be able to have a second chance like that for both of them and their families.
While I suppose the guy was very fortunate it was just a case of money to save his life, It is also beyond words ( that I can put here ) that effectively if they hadn't come up with the money, the guy wouldn't be here now. How do we allow this in our modern, enlightened, sensitive, caring ( supposedly anyway), politicly correct society? We spend more time making sure we don't offend Killers and terrorists than we do concerning ourselves with the fact that this guy had a price on his life and had he not been able to come up with the cash, the world would have been content to let him die. We spend Billions a year around the world keeping scum and parasites alive yet this clearly decent guy would not have got a cent from any gubbermint to save him.
Unbelievable.

It is great to see this crowd funding thing put to good use.
A distant family member used this crowd funding last year and totally rorted peoples good nature. She said she had to go OS for medical treatment that could have been done 3 hours from her. Instead she went overseas for 6 weeks visiting about 7 countries and when she came back had all these extensions done to her house.

I had inside info I reported to every authority I could think of and I know I wasn't the only one to complain to different govt departments as her previous scams were well known in her local area but she played the poor sick single mother card and not a single thing was done. Disgusting.
A couple of the email replys I got in response to my complaints and supposed investigations they had done would be great satire if they were not real. One basically says they found evidence she had broken a number of laws but because she claimed she was unaware of her obligations and there was little chance she would re offend, they had cautioned her and they were not going to persue it. For in excess of $100K fraud, I think that is ridiculous.

To think she could be taking away the chance for someone like this guy to live is sickening. As is she. I'm not a real faithful person but I do believe in Karma and I hope she gets every cent worth of hers because to me she has crossed a boundary where decent human beings just don't go.


Perhaps the best aspect of these pics is not the ones of him but the ones of her.
There is a certain look that is very apparent to me in her eyes and smile that is really a window to the relief and overwhelming contentment she must have to know her deepest wish has been granted and her worst nightmare avoided.
Theirs will be a fantastic love story that radiates all the way down to their children and everyone that knows them.

I hope the hardship they have had will be repaid 1000 times throughout their lives together and never again will they have to suffer like they already have.
They have had their share of troubles, their "debt" in Karma is cleared for the rest of their lives.



Oct 11, 2015 at 11:36 PM
FrancisK7
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Matthew & Katia (and their 600K crowdfunded cancer cure)


I agree completely that it's all about their love and the expressions of that love. Which, as you say, is clearly apparent on Katia's face. That's why I offered them this session for free.

Matthew is practically my age. He lives 5 minutes away from me. We went to the same high school. His wife is the cousin of one of my best friends. I could have been him. It could have been my brother.

Erika and I have been close since high school so Matthew's story really hit close to home. Nobody is prepared to hear at 25, a month after their honeymoon, that the thing standing between now and death is a $600,000 cure.

It's nothing short of miraculous that it all went so well, from the campaign going viral to the treatment eradicating the cancer. And if you read about it, you'll realize it is very cutting edge stuff (even sounds sci-fi ish to some).

I had Erika over for dinner a month ago and she told me then Mat was cancer free. I was so happy for him, I asked her if she thought her cousin might be interested in a photo session. It's fall and my wedding season is over so I had the time. I got in touch with Kat on Facebook spontaneously. Introduced myself, she said yes immediately.

We hadn't met before today, but it clicked from the start. They weren't nervous at all. Katia especially was really excited, so that motivated me.




Oct 11, 2015 at 11:52 PM
glort
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Matthew & Katia (and their 600K crowdfunded cancer cure)


I got the feeling this was done out of the goodness of your heart.
Well done Francis.

It probably meant more to this couple than they could ever describe and thank you for and be something they look back on as a point in their life where things changed for the better.

You are a good Bloke Francis. I have a LOT of respect for people that do things out of the the goodness of their hearts to help others.
I hope you get every bit of the good Karma you thoroughly deserve in return for this very kind act of generosity and being the sort of person that the world could use millions more of.



Oct 12, 2015 at 01:31 AM
Charles Loy
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Matthew & Katia (and their 600K crowdfunded cancer cure)


Fun series, serious past concern and fantastic photos.


Oct 12, 2015 at 07:32 AM
Adam_A
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Matthew & Katia (and their 600K crowdfunded cancer cure)


Very nice. And very touching story.

Adam




Oct 12, 2015 at 09:23 AM
MRomine
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Matthew & Katia (and their 600K crowdfunded cancer cure)


Wonderful job and wonderful images!


Oct 12, 2015 at 09:48 AM
jeremy_clay
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Matthew & Katia (and their 600K crowdfunded cancer cure)


An aside, on my monitor at least, all of the large images are really pixelated/distorted, like they have been uprezzed from a small .jpg to match my resolution? My want to check that out for presentation purposes as it really takes away from the shots themselves.


Oct 12, 2015 at 09:56 AM
FrancisK7
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Matthew & Katia (and their 600K crowdfunded cancer cure)


Reposted the images


Oct 12, 2015 at 12:00 PM
DaveOls
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Matthew & Katia (and their 600K crowdfunded cancer cure)


It's great that you did this shoot for them. It's also fortunate that with the technology available today the she was able to get all those donations.
Matthew reminds me of the man under Captain Piccard on Star Trek because of the beard maybe.



Oct 12, 2015 at 01:55 PM
FrancisK7
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Matthew & Katia (and their 600K crowdfunded cancer cure)


It's true he looks like a young Jonathan Frakes a bit


Oct 12, 2015 at 02:55 PM
Puffin Runner
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Matthew & Katia (and their 600K crowdfunded cancer cure)


Dammit, I come to Fred Miranda to look at awesome pictures, not to CRY!!!!

OK seriously, what a great story, and WONDERFUL pictures. #6, #11 and #13 are my favorites. Wow. I need a Kleenex.



Oct 12, 2015 at 06:09 PM
nolaguy
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Matthew & Katia (and their 600K crowdfunded cancer cure)


Francis,

Astonishing and inspiring back story and a really beautiful set. This takes feel good to a higher level... I'm so happy for you and for this lovely couple. Definitely a moment in time worth remembering and you've captured every nuance of it.

Well done, my friend.

Chuck



Oct 15, 2015 at 04:29 AM
WiredMike
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Matthew & Katia (and their 600K crowdfunded cancer cure)


Is it just me or does she have some of the most amazing eyes? Number 6 just really does it for me.
Thank you for sharing.
And a quick reply to the second post. There is evil in this world. Always has been, always will be. We can choose to focus on that and be miserable. Or we can do our best to be righteous good men and woman. Both on a physical and spiritual level. I cant help to believe that one day we will win.



Oct 16, 2015 at 07:54 AM
FrancisK7
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Matthew & Katia (and their 600K crowdfunded cancer cure)


I am bumping this because of urgent news I have just received concerning Matthew. Unfortunately, his cancer has relapsed. His only chance is an improved CART-19 clinical trial.

You can learn more about the situation on their website

http://helpsavematthew.com/

Or their new donation campaign here:

http://www.youcaring.com/matthewschreindorfer-695485

In this holiday season for which I have much to be thankful for, I wanted to raise a bit of awareness for a truly wonderful person.

Happy thanksgiving to all my American friends and thank you for your support.




Nov 23, 2016 at 03:57 PM





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