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Micayla

Daughter, sister, friend, wife, Mumma, nurse, advocate & nonprofit co-founder.

“I was raised by my beautiful, selfless, mother. She showed me what love is & pushed me to be my best. My father is a great person who’s had a lot of struggles over the years. My parents may not have been “in love” every day of my life but I knew every day of my life that they both loved me. I was taught what I needed to be able to love & in return be loved. My grandparents, aunts & uncles played a big role – it takes a village. My kids give me purpose. My daughter has a rare genetic disorder so I fear bullying. I fear “special needs mom” burn out, losing myself & the fun loving relationship my husband & I have because life is pulling us every which way. I fear what will happen when I’m gone. I have “normal” mom worries too. Like sickness, hurt & them becoming decent people. I worry about my daughter & her future. I feel judged at times & feel guilty that there is always something more I could be doing to increase her potential. I remind myself I can only do my best. As much as I love being a mom & wife I’m focusing on balancing my responsibilities so I can grow in my career & achieve my own goals. I want my kids to feel like I contribute to our family. I want to be an example of hard work, determination & dreaming. I’d tell a 12 year old me to stop trying to please people – that you’ll end up disappointing yourself. Success is keeping my family and myself happy & healthy, rolling with whatever comes & making it work for us. In 10 years I should be an NP settled in a career path I love. I hope to be balanced happy & spending time doing things I love with people I love. I wish more people understood our family dynamic & the challenges we face with Mallory’s diagnosis. I don’t see her Syndrome as a weakness or a curse. She is perfect, she is happy & she is my baby. It is hard, though. It’s hard to watch other families do things that might never work for us. I don’t want pity or sympathy just respect for what we deal with. I am proud of my ability to advocate for others. I’m effective, assertive & I get things done. I’m Micayla. I live by respect, honesty & compassion. I am grateful.”

Micayla

Kristie Dean, Micayla, 2022. Digital Photograph. ©Kristie Dean. All rights reserved.

Kristie Dean & Denisha Fisher

artist website

@thesoulprojectstories
@DeFi__Studios

Kristie Dean (Photography)

Kristie is a professional photographer and mom of three from Stoughton, MA. She followed in the footsteps of her father and older brother, both long-time commercial photographers, and established her own photo business after graduating from Suffolk University in 2010. As a busy, working Mom with two-under-two, Kristie found herself feeling disconnected and lost. She found her purpose when she merged her passions for photography and storytelling to address the pressure and expectations placed on women by social media and society at every stage of their lives. Her long running documentary project, Soul Stories, began with the regular sharing of stories and portraits of everyday women as an intentional way to give other women support and hope. She is currently the director of the Soul Project, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization which encompasses Soul Stories as well as provides additional services and support to women of all ages in the Massachusetts area. She is currently pursuing a masters degree in Positive Psychology and most importantly, raising her three young daughters Sunny, Penelope and Coco.

Denisha Fisher (Graphic Design)

Denisha is the current Graphic Designer for the Massachusetts General Hospital Photography Lab. Born in Boston, MA and raised in Springfield, MA, Denisha considers herself an applied artist, merging aesthetics and commercial practicality to educate her audience. She graduated Lesley University in 2021 with a degree in graphic design and minor in photography. She joined MGH in May 2022, interested in using her skills to communicate complex issues and topics from healthcare workers to the public in a more accessible way. She is currently working to build her social presence to pursue a career in teaching and promoting financial literacy.

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