Barbara is an award-winning dog photographer in Chicago, IL. But her story is so much more than that.
After being diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, Barbara didn't think she'd ever be able to take pictures again. But she was about to spark a new creative journey that unfolded in surprising ways. Her passion for photography, love of dogs, and positive outlook came together for one inspirational tale of hope and artistry.
Barbara says:
“Our journey through life can take us on different paths. There are paths we choose and there are paths that are chosen for us. ‘You have early onset Parkinson’s Disease’, explained the neurologist. She continued on talking about the disease. The rest of that appointment was all a blur and surreal. So my journey began down that path that was chosen for me.
That first step was acceptance that I have a degenerative neurological movement disorder disease. The Parkinson’s will progressively get worse, I will never get well. The reality of living with Parkinson’s set in; I was facing a future with little hope.
Would it be possible to live life with joy, happiness and humor with this disease? YES, I reassure myself of that everyday. I am open about what it is like to live with Parkinson’s disease. I share with others not for pity, but to raise awareness about Parkinson’s and hopefully to motivate and inspire others.
I hope you enjoy my story, a small glimpse in my everyday life how my personal experiences enabled me to rise above. Living and coping with Parkinson's influenced my work greatly."
If you love her work, head over here for your copy of her book. Proceeds benefit the Michael J. Fox Foundation and other Parkinson's research organizations.
Please SHARE Barbara's story with your friends and family.
Overcoming: One woman's incredible journey of perseverance and hope. from Anna Mayer on Vimeo.
