Jonathan's Gift

Celebrate childhood! These two words are the core of Project Childhood’s mission, and one very talented photographer who is celebrating childhood through her lens is Angela Crutcher of Nashville, TN. I had the opportunity to speak with Angela this afternoon about an amazing program that she has created called, Jonathan’s Gift.

Angela’s son, Jonathan, is three years old and was born with a cleft palate - basically, there was no roof of his mouth. Jonathan was not able to nurse or suck from a bottle and his life was in danger as he continued to lose weight. Angela, with seemingly little help from her medical community, was persistent in finding solutions to help her newborn son, and she did. Jonathan is a beautiful little boy (he’s the one in the red cape) who has never cried an actual tear, will never know a life without tubes in his ears, and has several other issues related to his cleft condition. He has had one corrective surgery and is due for another one this fall.

Angela believes that God gave to her both her adorable Jonathan and the gift of photography for a reason. Now, she is giving back. Each year, 1 in 1,500 babies born will have either a cleft lip or palate. Angela said these children tend to be shunned by society because of their differences. She wants to show the world that cleft babies and children are beautiful! Through “Jonathan’s Gift” Angela is helping other cleft children and their families. Angela donates her time and talent to photograph children in a “before” and “after” session. To date, Angela has photographed these two little boys and is waiting to shoot their “after” sessions later this spring, as both are close to their surgical correction dates. I can only imagine the joy these parents must experience having such beautiful images of their children.

Jonathan’s Gift is local to the Nashville area, but Angela would love to launch this program into a worldwide non-profit group with photographers from all across the globe. To help others, she needs to get the word out there and get photographers on board. Angela, count me in!

Oh, did I mention that this talented and generous photographer is 22 years old? She is truly amazing! To learn more about Jonathan’s Gift visit Angela Crutcher Photography.

- Lora Carr, guest blogger

Comments

[Jennifer Adams]

I think Angela is doing a wonderful thing, because there are so many beautiful children out there that so many people look at wrongly or around because they have a disability or because they have something that looks a little different with their appearance, and frankly it disgusts me and my heartbreaks for these children. I am happy that Angela has brought it upon herself to do such great charity as this, I wish you lots of luck!

[April Dupree]

Angela and our families go to church together and Jonathan is just the sweetest little boy! It's a passion and desire that drives Angela to do what she does and you can see that through her work! I'm so glad that she has a chance to make Jonathan's gift go worldwide!! She is using the talents God has given her and it's awesome to watch Him shine through her!! Great job Angela for making it this far already! Can't wait to see how far your talents take you!

[Ashlee Curtis]

I heard what Angela was doing per my husband today. He had heard through a friend at work. We live near her area. I called her immediately to see if she could take pictures of our beautiful daughter Whitlee. Of course, she agreed. Whitlee(5 months old) was born with a unilateral cleft lip and palate. She is sched for surgery on May the 8th for lip/nasal repair and eustation tube placement. Our little angel is a gift from GOD.

We have had her picture taken before. I often get frusterated because people rudely stare or make uneducated comments, even the photographers. It is such a blessing to hear about such a wonderful and caring person. I can't wait to meet her!-Ashlee

[Jessica Hughes]

Yay for Angela!! I was born with a cleft lip. What you are doing touches me deeply