Journalism Undergrad Student, Mark Mulligan, 2007
Project overview:
Three years ago, 5 year-old C.J. Sutphin was diagnosed with a series of 7 brain tumors spread throughout his brain. The tumors are the result of a genetic disease called Neurofibromatosis. Because of the twisting nature of the tumors, doctors have determined the situation inoperable. Therefore, since 2004, C.J., with the constant support of his family, have undergone an endless number of different chemotherapy treatments, each new medicine a renewed hope for the future.
C.J. Sutphin, a 5 year-old resident of Culpeper, Va., plays in his pre-Kindergarten class at A.G. Richardson Elementary School on Tuesday, June 5, 2007. C.J. attends the Special Education pre-Kindergarten class just Monday through Wednesday. On Thursdays C.J. travels with his grandfather and mother to Children’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. for chemotherapy treatments for the tumors growing on Sutphin’s brain.
Dr. Packard, a Children’s Hospital Neurologist, examines C.J.’s reflexes and eyesight with a sock puppet during a September hospital visit. Dr. Packard originally diagnosed C.J.’s brain tumors on Christmas Eve 2004 in Charlottesville, Va. where the Sutphin family had taken C.J. for a second opinion about what appeared to be a lazy eye. Dr. Packard identified a large tumor growing behind C.J.’s eye. The tumor turned out to be just one of seven.
Kathy Sutphin administers the chemotherapy drug Tarceva to her son C.J. through his Mickey Button for the first time October, 1, 2007, in their Culpeper, Va. townhouse. C.J. receives most of his nourishment and medicines through the stomach port, including a nightly feeding while he sleeps. The great advantage of the new chemotherapy drug, is that after almost three years of weekly trips to Washington, D.C., Kathy can now administer the treatment herself at home.
Kathy Sutphin shows what $4000 worth of her son C.J.’s pills is comprised of. It is the first day Kathy will grind up a tablet of Tarceva and administer it to C.J. Kathy was overjoyed on Monday, October 1, 2007, to find out that FAMIS approved their use of the drug. Pictured is a one month supply, administered a pill a day.
Kathy Sutphin shows signs of fatigue as she stands beside her son, C.J., while he sleeps at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. last week. During a recent trip, C.J. underwent an MRI to determine the effects of a new drug on the tumors on his brain.
C.J. and Kathy Sutphin laugh at the IHOP in Gainesville, Va. where the family stops every Thursday on their way home from the hospital. Wherever C.J. goes during the Thursday routine, the family finds itself on a first name basis with everyone. Much of that comes from “the C.J. look,” the name for C.J.’s well known smile coined by hospital nurses and now expected by everyone from the IHOP waiters to hospital staff that see him every Thursday.
Photographer bio:
Mark Mulligan worked for a year as a staff photographer at the Fauquier Times-Democrat in Northern Virginia before returning to the University of Texas for the spring of 2008 to finish his Journalism and English degrees. C.J. Sutphin’s story won 2nd and 3rd Place awards from the Virginia Press Association. A short documentary film is currently in production continuing the family’s story.
Mulligan worked as a staff photographer and the Photo Editor at The Daily Texan before moving to Virginia. He will be the photo intern at The Everett Herald from July through December 2008.
Mulligan is part of the Chiron Photos Agency and updates a photo blog regularly.
All content on this page courtesy of Mark Mulligan, and may not be copied, reproduced or otherwise redistributed without express permission. Info last updated 04/29/08.
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