On February 1, 2018 Kaylee Marshfield turned 6 years old. It was also the day her parents received a phone call confirming their fears—the reason Kaylee had been feeling sick was because she had a Wilm’s Tumor, a form of childhood cancer. I met Kaylee and her family in August 2018, less than a month after moving from Pittsburgh. In October Kaylee spent several weeks in the hospital receiving chemotherapy treatment. During one visit she emptied out a small linen cupboard in her room and reclaimed it as “her office”, declaring that anyone who wished to enter must first knock. Kaylee Marshfield, 6, hides in the linen closet of her hospital room during a recent stay at Syracuse’s Upstate Cancer Center. Kaylee spent a week in the hospital due to an extremely low white-blood cell count, putting her at higher risk for infections.
Kaylee and her mother, Kristina, embrace at the end of a long day as Abigail, Kaylee’s younger sister, reaches out for attention. Abigail, age 5, does not understand why Kaylee is suddenly the recipient of gifts and extra attention; her confusion and misplaced jealousy has caused friction between sisters who just months before were inseparable.
Kaylee, age six, and her sisters fall from the Great New York State Fair’s “drop tower” on the last day of the 2018 fair. Every year the Marshfield family attends the week-long fair. This year Kaylee was only able to attend three days as her level of strength fluctuated day-to-day as she fought the effects of both cancer and chemotherapy. The day before this image was taken Kaylee spent several hours in the Syracuse Upstate Cancer Center receiving chemotherapy. Diagnosed on February 1, 2018—her sixth birthday—Kaylee was just beginning her eighth month of treatment when I first met her at the New York State Fair.
After nine months of chemotherapy and several surgeries Kaylee was officially declared cancer-free on October 22, 2018. The date marks the end of one chapter in Kaylee’s life and the beginning of the next—one where I have the privilege of being a small part of as I continue to photograph her story.
As much of the first grade class at St. Rose of Lima Elementary School enjoys a carefree recess Kaylee Marshfield sits alone amidst her peers.
Kaylee Marshfield was diagnosed with cancer on February 1, 2018—her sixth birthday. In addition to having to navigate the physical ramifications of cancer and chemotherapy treatment Kaylee also suffered social and emotional effect. After spending the day with her at school and seeing this frame I asked her how she felt that day; Kaylee looked at me and responded, “I feel alone.”
Kristina helps Kaylee into her pajamas during their annual, family vacation to Hershey Park. A scar from the surgery that removed her tumor on March 28, 2018 is visible. Vulnerability, innocence and strength all wrapped up in the form of one special little 6-year old.
Today was a big day. Kaylee had her final scans which, should they come back clean later this week, will mean she is officially cancer free. Tonight was also the first time I was welcomed into the Marshfield home—for the past 8 months they’ve lived in and out of bags and at the hospital— and explained they were embarrassed by the state of their home. As a friend this warms my heart to be asked into their space and as a photographer I look forward to the added dimensions this will bring to Kaylee’s ongoing story. .
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Earlier this evening Kaylee and her sister, Abigail, squeezed in a few last minutes on their beloved tablets before we all got ready to go trick-or-treating. .
Todd and Kristina Marshfield quietly argue while Kaylee listens nearby. Both parents have lost their jobs since the time Kaylee was first diagnosed, adding a layer of stress and tension to an already difficult situation.
At the end of a long day at the New York State Fair Kaylee Marshfield takes a solitary moment of rest.
Kaylee retrieves her “Night-night”–a comfort blanket always at her side–before walking the neighborhood on Halloween 2018. After being found cancer-free on October 31, Kaylee and her family are beginning to re-orient themselves to “normal” life. Both of Kaylee’s parents lost their jobs over the course of her 7 months of treatment—they’re both pursuing employment now. And Kaylee, 6 years old, is beginning to talk about her desire for long hair and already planning her 7th birthday party (February 1).
A picture of Kaylee Marshfield, 5, taken only months before being diagnosed with cancer, hangs in the hallway of the Marshfield home.
Kaylee and her sister Abigail get ready to trick-or-treat on Halloween 2018; Kaylee dressed up as PInkie Pie and Abigail chose to dress as “unicorn fairy.”
A moment in time with Kristina and Kaylee Marshielf.
Lunchtime at St.Rose of Lima Elementary School.
Lunchtime at St.Rose of Lima Elementary School.
Kristina and Todd Marshfield receive a text message from Kaylee’s grandmother alerting them that Kaylee’s fever had spiked. When Kaylee was feeling well the Marshfield family attended the New York State Fair together, but when she needed rest Kaylee would stay home with her grandmother while Kristina and Todd spent 12+ hours per day collecting cans to raise money for childhood cancer research.
On October 10, 2018 Kaylee Marshfield had the stent removed from her chest.
While receiving a chemotherapy treatment Kaylee explains to her parents the difference between the various types of “L.O.L dolls”, a toy she and her sisters collect, and why it was necessary she also have the “pet” collection.
This was one of the few instances where I saw Kaylee fully acknowledge and react to her situation. She had been in the Upstate Cancer Center for several days receiving chemotherapy treatment and yet her white blood cell count remained at zero. She would be staying yet another night.
Frustrated and bored, Kaylee just wanted to be a “normal” little girl.
On October 10, 2018 Kaylee Marshfield had the stent removed from her chest. I consider cancer to be one of those things I’ve always been somewhat knowledgeable about, but that I’ve never really understood. Getting to know Kaylee and her family, over the past several months, has inadvertently made childhood cancer personal. Today we spent the morning at the Upstate Cancer Center. In addition to witnessing her treatment I was surrounded by children like her, of all ages, afflicted with various forms of cancer and in various stages of treatment or slow death.
Nearly 15,000 children under the age of 15 are diagnosed with cancer each year and it’s the second leading cause of death (second only to “accidents”). In spite of this, of the $5 billion annually spent on cancer research only 4% of federal funding goes to study pediatric cancer. Unsurprisingly, this is motivated by profit. Cancer research funds are driven by the number of people — of any age — who have the disease. And, of course, adults, with decades of exposures and behaviors, experience cancer in much greater numbers than young children. A rational human mind wonder why the number of potential years of life ahead might factor into these decisions, but that is not the way our world works.
Kristina and her son from her first marriage, Dylan, age 16, exchange a glance while walking with Isabelle and Kaylee on Halloween night. This year Kaylee chose to dress up as the character “Pinkie Pie.”
Kaylee and her sister Abigail play on their hotel bed in Hershey, Pennsylvania after torrential rains forced the family to leave Hershey Park several hours early. Every year the Marshfield family spends a long Thanksgiving weekend together at the amusement park and nearby Chocolate World.
Kaylee and her father, Todd, share a moment during their family vacation to Hershey Park in November 2018.
Kaylee’s 7th birthday party.
Kaylee smiles at her instructor after receving a new stripes on her pink belt.
Kaylee and her sisters braved the waning winter cold to spend park of their Sunday outside at the Onondoga Lake State Park.
Cancer free and on their way home from an afternoon at Onondoga Lake State Park, Kaylee and her sisters beg for a hot chocolate break.
On February 1, 2018 Kaylee Marshfield turned 6 years old. That same day her parents received a call that explained why their oldest daughter, Kaylee, had been sick for the past month. Todd and Kristina were told that Kaylee had a Wilm’s Tumor, a rare form of childhood cancer, growing in her chest.
I met Kaylee and her family in August 2018 at the New York State Fair; it was six months after she had been diagnosed and at the time Kaylee was in the midst of chemotherapy treatment, having lost her hair and a significant amount of weight. I spent the remaining five days of the New York State Fair with Kaylee and her family, slowly earning their trust and learning more about Kaylee’s condition and the family’s struggle to endure the financial and emotional strain of having a very sick child.
For weeks and then months following the fair, The Marshfield’s allowed me to continue spending time, making photographs of what I originally believed was a story of a little girl’s battle with childhood cancer. As time passed and we became close it became clear hers was not “just” the story of a child with cancer but rather one of the nuanced dynamics of a family as they together navigated her diagnosis, treatment and life once found cancer-free.
Spending time with Kaylee and her family quickly evolved into being invited on family vacations, visiting on holidays and attending karate practice and school recitals. Through it all, Kaylee has done her best to balance life as a first-grader, daughter, sister and cancer patient with the grace and maturity of someone many times her age.
Kaylee and her mother, Kristina, embrace at the end of a long day as Abigail, Kaylee’s younger sister, reaches out for attention. Abigail, age 5, does not understand why Kaylee is suddenly the recipient of gifts and extra attention; her confusion and misplaced jealousy has caused friction between sisters who just months before were inseparable. (Photo by Maranie Staab/GroundTruth)
PHOTOGRAPHER’S NOTES:
If someone would have told me that one of the most significant relationships I’d form while in Syracuse would be to a young girl of 7 I’d have found that difficult to imagine. And yet, nearly a year after moving from Pittsburgh to Central New York I look at having met Kaylee and the Marshfield family as a rare and treasured gift.
After nine months of chemotherapy and several surgeries Kaylee was officially declared cancer-free on October 22, 2018. The date marks the end of one chapter in Kaylee’s life and the beginning of the next—one where I have the privilege of being a small part of as I continue to photograph her story. (Photo by Maranie Staab/GroundTruth)
As a photographer, working with Kaylee has been the most organic and naturally evolving story I’ve ever been part of. She has taught me the value of long-term work and has made clear that time and establishing trust are perhaps the most important elements in creating intimate images.
I’ve much gratitude for this 7-year-old; without knowing it, she has kept me grounded and in touch with my own inner child, providing balance and an element of life I hadn’t known was missing. This is ongoing work, without parameters or specific expectations. I have told the Marshfields that I will be a part of their lives for as long as they’ll have me, well beyond my graduation in December 2019. We’ve joked that someday Kaylee will need someone to photograph her graduation … I have not so secret hopes I will get to be that person.
