Heartbroken

I was absolutely heartbroken to learn of the tragic and untimely death of one of my recent clients, Travis Engstrom of Bozeman. He and his wife Kelly came to see me for newborn and family photos following the birth of their firstborn child, Kaden Lee. Now Kaden Lee is 6 months old... and his daddy is gone. At only 35 years of age, his father Travis, a huge lover of the outdoors, was a victim of an avalanche while snowmobiling along with his beloved wife and a group of friends near Cooke City this past weekend.

.Words cannot begin to express how my heart goes out to Kelly knowing what unimaginable pain she must be going through right now to lose her husband, her soulmate, the father of her child. Truly, I haven't stopped thinking about this since I received the news via email on Sunday, thankfully prior to reading it in the newspaper today. What breaks my heart most of all, is that their baby will never know his father, the man who gave him life and who loved him so deeply...except for the pictures and stories and any videos they may have taken as a family...
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All I know is this...that when I photograph a person, a child, a family...their image is forever etched in my mind and so it is that I can easily recall Travis Engstrom, a man who radiated like the sun itself when I photographed him with his beautiful baby boy. In all these years, I don't think I've ever seen a man more in love with his newborn child. He was awestruck, mesmerized...and it was so clear...his life would never be the same again for he was not only a husband, but a father as well and suddenly, life took on a whole new meaning. The connection he had with his wife Kelly was so effortless and deep. It was clear to see they were kindred spirits and that their child was truly borne of love.
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So please, allow me to share a few of the first and last photographs taken of the Travis Engstrom Family...

A family forever wrapped up in love...
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And lastly, to Kelly and Kaden Lee...may the light of that brilliant new star in the sky that shines upon you bring you peace and comfort you in all the days to come...

In deepest sympathy...
Susann

Update (1/21): I would like to add that a memorial fund has been set up for Kelly and Kaden at www.travisengstrom.org if you would like to donate.