Public Affairs Photographer Receives National Recognition

During two weeks in October and November, Susan Merrell, a photographer who works in the Public Affairs department as a news assistant, spent time capturing images of the children, families and caregivers at UCSF Children's Hospital. Those efforts paid off recently when Merrell learned that one of her photos - of a mother and child, titled "Pietà II" - placed in the top 10 of the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI) photo contest. Merrell's photo was chosen for recognition from among 277 entrants from 57 children's hospitals throughout the United States. It will be featured in a photo display at the NACHRI 2007 Spring Conference, which will be held in San Francisco in March. The image depicts Victoria Azevedo and her daughter, Lilly, 3, who live on a dairy farm in Livingston, CA, about one hour outside Modesto. Lilly has been undergoing treatment for high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia at UCSF Children's Hospital since last September. Her mother said that although Lilly is very ill, she still loves ballet, gymnastics and the Disney princesses. She loves to make jewelry and to put beads and "sparkles on socks," which she then shares with other children when she visits the Pediatric Treatment Center for care. Merrell said she was deeply touched by the relationship between mother and daughter. "I loved taking this picture and talking with Victoria and Lilly," she said of the image. "Victoria looked at Lilly as a mother during their conversation, knowing the gravity of her disease, while Lilly drew pictures of herself as a princess, giggling with the expression of any child, living only in that moment, enveloped in her mother's love. Victoria is such a devoted mother, and Lilly adores her. Lilly's body language was totally open and trusting," Merrell said. From 1993 to 1996, Merrell worked as a staff photographer for Santa Clara University. Her photographs have been reproduced in more than 300 university publications, including documentation of complex and delicate de Saisset Museum exhibits. Merrell's photography has appeared in numerous newspapers and in art, music, literary and alternative press publications, including several owned by the Metro newspaper chain in the South Bay, as well as Bay Area Music magazine, California History magazine, Bohème, San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News, San Francisco Observer, San Francisco Bay Guardian and Paul Masson Magazine. The National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI) is an organization of children's hospitals with 204 members in the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Italy, China, Mexico and Puerto Rico. NACHRI promotes the health and well-being of all children and their families through support of children's hospitals and health systems that are committed to excellence in providing health care to children. Photo/Susan Merrell Related Links: NACHRI 2007 Spring Conference, San Francisco, March 2007