Trisomy Picnic | Chicago Special Needs Photographer | Naperville Special Needs Photographer

I was honored to photograph the annual memorial balloon launch and picnic for Support Organization for Trisomy (SOFT).  They are a national organization created to support families with Trisomy 18, 13, and related disorders.  Their annual conference and picnic were held in Chicago this year.  This group of families share a bond that unites them in grief, in struggle, and in hope.  While children with Trisomy disorders were scattered among the crowd, there were too many T-shirts created in memory of those who had already passed away.

The picnic was held at the Oakbrook Bath & Tennis Club – a lovely venu.  In the beginning, it was sprinkling and grey, though very humid.  But by the end, it was a gorgeous, sunny day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the picnic, it was time for the memorial balloon launch to remember those children who had already passed away.  Each balloon had a card with a child’s name on it.

There were too many of these balloons.  Too many children who died before their time.   It was a poignant moment, and it was hard to keep the tears away as I shot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the very end, they released a bunch of balloons for the unknown children whose parents didn’t know about S.O.F.T.

 

 

 

 

If you would like more information about SOFT, you may find it HERE