I have been in awe of Lidia Boicu’s photography for quite some time. To begin with, I did not know much about her personal story, although I did know that she is my age, a cancer survivor and mom to a preschooler.  I was drawn to her determination to persevere and confront the enemy by living her life passionately, and by giving back to the community of families affected by cancer through her non-profit organization, Tiny Sparrow Foundation.  Facebook brought us together, and gave us the chance to form a real friendship when we started conversing over the phone, and finally met in person.

Through Tiny Sparrow Foundation, Lidia has been offering families with children suffering life threatening illnesses, free of charge professional portraits and albums, while bringing smiles to those faces most needing of them.

Lidia, how would you describe yourself?

I would say that I am optimistic and motivated.  I try to live my life without fear.

Have you experienced any miracles?

Oh, so very many.  When I was 5 months pregnant with my daughter, I developed an infection for which I was hospitalized.  My white blood cells were so high and the doctors determined I had C-diff.  It was so out of control that I was in the hospital for 2 months.  My colon was inflamed and my body retained so much water that I soon ballooned out to 240 lbs. Although I was on both Morphine and Oxycodone, the pain was excruciating. I had a nurse that had to just take care of me and she would come at night and massage my body in hopes the pain would go away.

Those moments when somebody reached out to me are in my mind forever.  My hand in somebody’s when I was in the lowest of lows was so astounding that I vowed that if I got better I would be the person offering comfort.

I did get better, and 3 months later my baby was born.  She, however, was missing her entire sternum… You could see her heart beating.  At 5 weeks old she woke up choking, we rushed her in and the doctors discovered a hemangioma blocking 75% of her airway.  We were hospitalized.  At 7 weeks she was diagnosed with PHACES, a relatively new condition discovered in 1997, affecting only 200 worldwide, and lacking information on it.  We were hospitalized again.  And then again when she was nine months and we determined that fixing her sternum was necessary as it protects major arteries.

When my daughter was two, I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer which involved my lymph nodes.  The miracles started pouring in.  Although we were in a new town and knew no one, people jumped in cooking meals for us, helping with my daughter, cleaning the house.  I had a double mastectomy and a hysterectomy and spent many hours in bed.

Is that when you started your photography?

Yes, my husband had gotten me a nice SLR digital camera for Christmas.  I placed my computer in bed next to me and learned photoshop.  I took picture after picture.  After I recuperated, at the encouragement of my new found friends, I decided that I would take my photography to a different level.  Cancer gave me the courage I needed and had been lacking. I contacted Kate McRae’s family and told them that I wanted to provide them with professional photos of Kate and their family.  I was surprised when they agreed.

Do you think about dying?

Only every single day.  But I am not afraid anymore.  Life is a journey.  Still, I would love more than anything to be here for my daughter.  She beat all odds.  I so want to see her grow up into a beautiful young woman.

Any regrets, Lidia?

That I have spent too much time agonizing over what people think and say.  And for what?  No one has a perfect life.  Everyone has problems.

How do you want to be remembered?

That I made a difference in someone’s life.  That I have built strong, lasting relationships.  But I don’t want the focus to be on me.  I want it to be on those little boys and girls that Tiny Sparrow Foundation is hoping to touch.  Their memory will live on.

Thank you, Lidia.  Please take a moment and visit:#mce_temp_url# Bookmark the site, and if you find it in your heart, please make a donation.