pwned

Kevin Ballantine had to stay on as a full time undergrad at Northern Illinois University for his student insurance to cover his treatments in his battle against Leukemia. This rule has since changed, but that doesn’t take back the homework and classes he has to pass while he is in and out of the hospital.

Kevin’s father helps him out with his chemistry homework at home in DeKalb.

Canon 5D Mark 2 with 24mm f1.4

This story about Kevin and his Leukemia started out as a simple daily assignment. I was just going to shoot Kevin in the hospital and then maybe again at home after he was released. After my first evening with him and his family in his hospital room, I knew I wanted to spend as much time on this story as possible.

When I met Kevin, he was at Kishwaukee Hospital getting a round of chemotherapy. His girlfriend had made a surprise visit from NY to be with for his week of treatment.

Canon 1D Mark 3 with 24mm f1.4

At about 6 PM a nurse started a 12 hour drip of chemo. The patch on his exposed arm hides the tube which goes directly into his heart.

Canon 1D Mark 3 with 50mm f1.4

The two images above are what sold me on this story. Kevin was allowing himself to be very vulnerable with me. And his family had little problem being themselves with me and my cameras.

Kevin’s family was also there my first day in the hospital. Even if they were not interacting with Kevin directly, I bet Kevin appreciated just having them around. I found Kevin’s little brother talking with their mother about homework. Something done daily a home, transplanted to the hospital.

Canon 1D Mark 3 with 24mm f1.4

I made it a point to go back to see Kevin while still in the hospital but hopefully without the family. I was yet to see how he acted alone. An old high school friend and his girlfriend were around when I got there, but that was okay. We all act a little differently when out parents aren’t around.

Playing Guitar Hero.

Canon 1D Mark 3 with 24mm f1.4

It was pretty great that Erika had flown out from NY to be with Kevin while he was doing the chemo. When I had seen them on my first day, I could sense some hesitation around me and my cameras (understandably). So I brought my longer prime lens knowing that I wanted another moment between them but would need to shoot it from a distance. It’s not great, but it’s something.

Canon 1D Mark 3 with 85mm f1.8

That weekend Kevin was released from the hospital. I have found that shooting a family while making dinner is usually a good way to start. Making dinner typically keeps everyone busy. Even if they aren’t helping with preparing the meal, they are probably doing something else that keeps them from helping. This way the subjects stay active and don’t think they need to perform for you because they have an actual objective.

I had picked up some hints that they were relatively religious. Some of them talked about going to Church on Easter and about how good the crucifixtion reanactement was. I thought they might say grace before dinner, so I made sure I was at the end of the table once they sat down.

Canon 5D Mark 2 with 50mm f1.4

I was so busy the rest of the week that the next time I had a chance to shoot Kevin was the night before the story was due. I had hoped to follow Kevin while at class or out with friends, but I just never had the time. Either way I knew I needed more.

Kevin was working on homework when I arrived which seemed like a good topic to shoot. Later, his mother came into the room and explained the recently received insurance bill. So far Kevin’s treatments had cost over $123,000 and it was going to be covered 100% by the insurance. Kevin is only about 1/3 the way through the process of beating Leukemia and still has his bone marrow transplant ahead of him. Either way, the 100K price tag was still pretty jarring.

I was not prepapre for Kevin’s mother’s annoucement and had no good angle for a shot. I scrambed to get behind Kevin when I saw him lower his head. The original frame of this shot is very tilted only because I was leaning so much just to get the two of them in shot before one of them changed their position. Thank you crop tool.

Canon 5D Mark 2 with 50mm f1.4

This is when I learned about why Kevin is still a full time student at NIU. I knew I really needed to make the school part more of the story so I hung around a bit longer as he worked on his homework. I think the photo at the top of this post shows it better than the image below, but I’ll keep working on it.

Canon 5D Mark 2 with 50mm f1.4

Next for Kevin is finishing this year of school and a bone marrow transplant in the summer in a hospital in Chicago. His mother plans to rent an apartment in the city where she and the family can stay while Kevin has his 100 day supervision. This story is far from over and plan on sticking with it through the end.