Losing a loved one especially a child or parent to a life threatening illness is not always easy. However, Keaton Wrenn and his family heard of Soulumination and were able to capture moments with him that they could keep and look at as a lasting memory and a memento to keep loved ones memories alive.

First taking photographs of families with children with terminal illnesses, Lynette Huffman provided such keepsakes for families on a volunteer basis at Children's Hospital a few times a year.

Becoming more widely known for her work, in 2005 Huffman decided she needed to start a non-profit foundation to fund the program she was paying out of her own pocket. Putting calls out to friends for assistance she created Soulumination.

A vision to capture life affirming photographs, Soulumination provides professional photographs - free of charge - to families to have a positive record of their child's brief life and provide a living legacy for the children of parents lost to a terminal illness.

"At 15 months Keaton was diagnosed with a brain tumor, he didn't have a good prognosis at all so we asked Soulumination to photograph him just in case we lost him," said Lisa Owen Wrenn, mother of Keaton. "We had heard Soulumination through somebody we met through my son's treatment at Children's.

Last September the Wrenn family decided to take photos with Keaton after he was out of treatment.

"When Keaton came out of treatment he had no hair, lost all his teeth and I was worried about his photographs because I didn't want to remember him that way," Lisa said. "But the photos were beautiful and showed his spirit. It's a wonderful thing they're doing and trying to educate people on that too."

Sending one of their 21 professional photographers out to take photos of a child and any family members that are present, the goal of Soulumination is to try and make it a lighthearted family photo shoot that captures the spirit, love and moments of a family at a moment where they're not thinking of a time to get photographs, said Kari Bishay of Soulumination.

Expanding their mission last year, they now offer services to families with parents who have terminal illnesses and to children 18 years old and under.

Doing a reshoot of Keaton about a month ago, he is now two and a half years out from diagnosis. He is currently working on walking and talking and will be turning four this coming January.

"They take these photographs free of charge. I think it's a really special thing. We have been lucky but most of the families they photograph are really sort of a legacy," said Lisa.

Allison Espiritu may be reached at 783-1244 or allisone@robinsonnews.com.