Jess Cheetham: Bath Family Photographer | Documentary | Newborn | Day In The Life | Portraits

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The Terranova Family | An Afternoon In The Life | Documentary Family Photography in Cheltenham Gloucestershire

Muddy walks, muddy bikes, muddy tights and muddy shoes. And a couple of tears. An afternoon in the life of this beautiful family in Cheltenham in January.

Being invited to document an afternoon in the life of Kelly and her beautiful family was such a privilege. Kelly is engaged to Kevin and they have a 2 year old boy together called Freddie. Kelly has a sister called a Emma who is married to Chris and they have a 4 year old daughter Rosa together. Their parents are Jen and Tony. Kelly was 10 years old and Emma 6 years old when their mother Jen was diagnosed with Huntington’s disease (HD), but it wasn't until they were 18 years and 14 years old when her symptoms started showing and they were told about their mother’s condition.

Jen has had HD for 17 years and it has been a very gradual deterioration in her health. Huntington’s disease is the break down of nerve cells in the brain, over a very long period of time, resulting in a loss of physical and cognitive functionality. Jen is wheelchair bound and relies on carers and her family to do everything for her now. Her family all take it in their stride and smile and laugh with her despite the very sad and difficult backdrop of their family dynamic now. 

As I walked into their house I was greeted by a mass of smiling friendly faces, hugging me and welcoming me into their home. Cups of tea and biscuits were offered and I immediately felt like I had known this family for years. We hung out at home for a bit drinking tea and munching on biscuits while the children played and Jen had her lunch with her carer. It was then time to venture out for a family walk and everyone got wrapped up in coats, scarfs and hats complete with two little balance bikes for the kids.

It was a muddy walk. We walked around Kelly and Emma’s old neighbourhood where they grew up and they shared fond and happy memories of a place where their parents still live. I think it must be the most wonderful thing in the world to be able to come back to where you grew up as an adult with your own children. To walk the same streets you did 20 years ago where the landscape has barely changed. It’s like you will always have this one place that is a part of you and your history that you can always visit and be transported back.

Jen seemed to thoroughly enjoy the walk as she watched on fondly at her children and grandchildren walking alongside her. After a trip to the park and a good traipse around the neighbourhood, the afternoon sun had gotten colder and the children were hungry and tired so we headed back home, with a few tears along the way.  

When we got home it was time for a sit down and some sustenance for everyone. Jen had a warm meal which her daughter Emma fed her, with so much kindness and compassion it was very moving to witness. It was chill out time and almost tea time for the children, so a fire was lit and a movie was put on. The children got a second wind, yet the fatigued adults still managed to find the energy for some games of hide and seek and tag with the children. 

It wasn’t long before Jen needed another meal. This is one of her symptoms, an increased appetite and having to eat little and often. Once Kelly had finished cooking the children’s dinner she prepared something for her Mum. She then got her comfy and after a few laughs and high fives she fed her Mum her dinner in what was one of the most beautiful encounters between mother and daughter I have ever seen. 

I was so moved by this shoot. It’s not often I get the privilege to document such a poignant moment in this family’s history, as they prepare to near the end with their Mum. It goes without saying the tremendous sadness and heartbreak of this situation and what is on the horizon for these still very young sisters, preparing to say goodbye to their Mum, much earlier than they ever should have to. But in and amongst the unbelievable sadness there was still so much laughter and joy within this family and I think that was the most moving of all. Their optimism and upbeat outlook on this heartbreaking situation was inspiring and I hope these images provide them with a small amount of comfort of a joy-filled afternoon in the life of them; The Terranova’s. 

Kelly is co-creating a documentary film about her Mum’s condition. You can view it here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5HMVzl60dRs&feature=youtu.be

She also has a justgiving page, raising funds for research for Huntington’s Disease and you can find it here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/nextgenerationcycle

And you can check out her amazing Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/kellyterranova_/

Her sister Emma is running a really important campaign to help protect people with permanent disabilities and conditions. Her petition has over 300k signatures, click here to sign: https://www.change.org/p/government-end-reassessments-for-those-with-irreversible-disabilities-or-progressive-conditions

You can find more info about the campaign on her instagram page here: https://www.instagram.com/campaignformybrain/


See the gallery below for more from the shoot:

If you are interested in finding out more information about these types of documentary family photo sessions, or would like to book a session, click here!

I am Jess Cheetham, an award winning family photographer based in Bath, Somerset. I specialise in documentary style photography that is unposed, natural and real. Every single family is unique and therefore each shoot I do is different and brings new surprises, emotions and memories. I am honoured to be invited into your lives and capture some of your most private and intimate moments. These sessions are beautifully intimate and respectful and aim to capture you as family in the most authentic and connected way.