In March 2014, photographers Laura Scantling and Christie Guger had the chance to make a very unusual and touching photo of the three little girls from Oklahoma. They snapped three little girls: six-year-old Ryan Franklin, four-year-old Ashley Peters, and three-year-old Riley Huey. All three girls were wearing thin dresses and hugging each other like sisters. The kids were united by a common misfortune — they had cancer. It’s no wonder that the picture and a story behind it didn‘t leave anyone indifferent.
This photo shoot was special and very personal for Laura. Her stepdad died of lung cancer, having lost the battle with the disease, and her close friend lost her newborn son as a result of oncology.
A year later, Laura made a new photo with the same three girls. This time the eyes of all three were opened and looked directly at the lens as if symbolizing victory over the disease and the fact that now they can look to the future without fear.
One more year later, another picture appeared — the girls were holding their first portrait…
The girls celebrated the third anniversary of a healthy and fulfilling life. The gold ribbon in their hands is a symbol of children’s oncology. Unfortunately, not all the girls recovered without consequences. Ryan, the oldest one, lost her hair forever, she has a marked retardation in her growth, and renal failure. But she is alive and knows how to enjoy life like no one else…
