Back in 2014, photographer Lora Scantling captured three young girls fighting cancer. 3 years later, the girls have reunited for a new photo, and they’re stronger and healthier than ever!
Scantling’s father was losing his fight to lung cancer, so she wanted to do something “that spoke a thousand words that would draw emotion”.
She chose childhood cancer because her friend had lost her son to cancer earlier. “I put a post out on Facebook seeking little girls who were fighting cancer, and the portrait was born!” she said.
Three little girls have come together for their annual heartwarming reminder of how they stood by each other’s side as they faced an incredibly difficult time.
Oklahoma girls Rheann Franklin, 14, Ainsley Peters, 12, and Rylie Hughey, 11, first met for a touching photo together that went viral in 2014 while they were being treated for cancer.
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The 2014 photo captured the three girls hugging and showing support to each other, and it went viral on social media.
The 2017 photo is just as emotional. It shows the three girls, which are now all cancer-free, looking healthier and stronger than ever, and holding a gold ribbon, which represents childhood cancer awareness.
“This project has been amazing,” Scantling said. “I get some of the most heartwarming messages about people who come across the photo online and tell me about how it has helped them or someone they know through a dark time in their life.
“I don’t think these girls will ever understand just how powerful a simple picture of the three of them hugging has been.”
All three are now cancer-free, and they recently gathered once again to re-create the sweet picture with Oklahoma photographer Lora Scantling.
“Cancer is like a dragon,” Rheann said. “Yeah, and chemo is the prince,” Ainsley responded. Rylie added: “Cancer messed with the wrong princesses!”
“The most precious thing that has come from this is watching Rylie’s faith grow and mature, and watching her have so much love in her heart for everyone around her,” Rylie’s mother, Bridget Hughey said.
