Daily Archives: June 15, 2014

 

From the start, Catherine was a miracle, and in so many ways.  With two sons already, Sherelene became pregnant again and the start of an awesome test and miracle began.  Because Sherelene was using an IUD many doctors, including family members, insisted that the danger to the baby was such that Sherelene should have a therapeutic abortion. We struggled with it, but in the end, just couldn’t do it. We prayed that God would protect our unborn child, and went forward with the pregnancy.  The night Catherine was born I was in the delivery room with Sherelene, and our Doctor, and friend, Kenneth Hurlocker, who was also one of my photo students.  I prayed all the way up to the birth, please God, honor our decision!!!  I could see the smile from behind Ken’s mask when he held up the IUD and said, “well we can stop worrying about this!”

 

Catherine Anne Fortney was the only the third girl in the Fortney family, versus 46 boys in the past 25 years!  Another miracle!  I always wanted a daughter, though honestly was petrified, not having any idea how to be a father to a little girl.  Catherine made it easy, she was my little angel, and I still have the greatest memories of being her buddy as she grew up.  Catherine was not just a miracle because of the circumstances of her birth, she was and is one of the most giving and loving people I’ve ever known.  When she joined me to run the GAPW, the adventures and fun really began as we criss-crossed America discovering it together!  The Great American Photography Weekends will be remembered for many things and people, but for none more than Catherine, she made us thousands of friends!

 

 

 

 

We had such great time and everyone that got to meet Catherine fell in love with my “little girl”!  I have so many great memories of her growing up and I captured more great images of her than any other child!

 

 

Catherine has brought so many gifts into our lives, her husband Clint, and my two wonderful grandchildren Cassidy and Cade!  There are no words that could express how proud I am of Catherine, or how much I love her, or what a pleasure it has been to be her father.  In the end it has been said that, “An actor is nothing more than the result of how he played, his best role!”  To be Catherine’s father, is the honor, and pleasure, that is my crowning achievement!

 

On Father’s Day, you have made me more than I ever thought I could ever be.

 

 

Love you sweetheart,

 

Dad