This is 16-year-old Emily. Born with a rare disorder called Kabuki Makeup Syndrome, named after the facial resemblance to the white makeup work by traditional Japanese Kabuki dancers, she is 1 of 400 people worldwide to share this genetic anomaly.

Emily, is priceless. She is a gift and she is the most gentle loving soul I know.

My reason of absence for not blogging the past 2 weeks, I blame on her, and I don't care one single bit. I've spent a lot of time with Emily, her brother Kenny and mom Sonya in the last couple of weeks. My mama bear and her cubs, now in Ontario, and close enough for me to drive and visit. I've also been doing a story on their life.

Mixing work and pleasure is the best part of this job and I love when I can do both. The last week or so has been a hectic scramble to make a multimedia piece, write a social issue story and figure out a picture documentary based around their every day. The hardest part so far, has been trying to look at them as an outsider and separating myself from them emotionally. I've also had to try and see them with fresh eyes and pinpoint the story I want to tell. I've been so close and have been such an intimate part of their lives for so long, I know them so well, its hard to separate moments from what gets that story across sometimes. I was there, I know the feeling, I know the mood, I know the everything, it's finding how that best gets across to my audience that's the challenging part. They know nothing.

So, I've been piecing together a small three minute audio/visual of who and what they are. As people, as a family, as a minority and as human beings on this planet who struggle, but who survive. Who love and love with all they have and all they are. What you see is what you get kind of people, and what I get from them is nothing short of a small blessing. Karma giving me special people who I couldn't imagine not being in my life. I love the kids to death, like a brother and sister, and as for Sonya,  I have nothing but the up most respect for her. I want to do their story justice. I want to show them as the people I adore and can only hope others see them as I do.

Here's a little glimpse. Stay tuned for the results.