I met Lindsey at a Christmas celebration my sister was hosting a couple years back and was immediately struck by her bright and never-ending smile. She lit up the room and exuded warmth and love. She seemed like one of the happiest people I’d ever met, full of love and passion for life with everything going for her. When my sister told me that Lindsey had been struggling with Cystic Fibrosis all of her life, I was stunned. I never would have guessed it in a million years. So positive and full of life, Lindsey was living her life breath by breath, moment by moment in the most beautiful and inspirational way, and I was in awe of this young woman who was so wise beyond her years.

A few years later, my sister told me that Lindsey had had visiting New York City on her bucket list before she died and told me that she wanted to celebrate her turning 30 years old in the Big Apple. Once here, she accomplished something most people with Cystic Fibrosis would never be able to do and something I will never forget for as long as I live: she walked across the Brooklyn Bridge without oxygen at 30 years of age. I’ve walked over the bridge many times, always impacted by its beauty and the sheer feat of its existence. But this time was different. Seeing her take each step and each breath from the streets of Manhattan to the edges of Brooklyn made my heart soar. Her optimism, love of life and her ability to literally live her life one breath at a time with such joy truly inspires me to be better and I feel so very blessed to have had the opportunity to photograph a piece of her journey on this earth and in New York City. With much love and admiration, Lindsey!

XOXO,