By Kim Kalunian, Entertainment Contributor
All photos & video courtesy Massart Photography.
Wednesday, June 11 was a magical day for 22-month-old Mackenzie Miller.
Mackenzie was diagnosed with Horner System Drive, a rare eye disease, and Neuroblastoma in the fall of 2013. At just 13 months, she began undergoing chemotherapy and other treatments for her conditions.
That’s when Front Row stepped in. They’re an organization that gives people with terminal illnesses a chance to sit front row at an event of their choice, and Mackenzie was well enough to attend a “Princesses on Ice” show in April.
“Words can’t describe,” said Lisa Miller, Mackenzie’s mom, of her daughter’s reaction to the show. “Princesses, I have a feeling, will be [in] my house for quite some time!”
What Lisa and Mackenzie didn’t know, was that a pair of Rhode Island-based photographers had heard Mackenzie’s story, and wanted to make her princess experience even more magical.
Seth and Audrey Mcinerney co-own Massart Photography, and after hearing Mackenzie’s story through a friend at Front Row, they thought they could continue the magic for her in a special way.
They hopped on social media and began asking other local companies to help them set up a special princess photo shoot for Mackenzie.
“When Massart Photography contacted me it was an instant yes, there was no doubt about it I had to make time for this one,” said Isabelle, who owns Isabelle Princess Parties and provided the three actresses to play princesses for the special shoot. “Once I heard about Mackenzie’s story, I knew I wanted to be a part of this for her.”
While Isabelle’s Princess Parties provided the princesses, Personal Touch Florist gave Mackenzie a wand and a crown, Everything Sweet Cakes gave her a princess dress to wear and Mike’s Estate Services secured vintage teacups for her outdoor tea party fit for a Queen.
Once everything was in place, Seth and Audrey reached out to Lisa Miller.
“I was so overtaken by the generosity,” said Miller. “They were just amazing. The whole process was just phenomenal.”
On Wednesday, Lisa and Mackenzie, who live in Woburn, Mass., made the two-hour trek to Roger Williams Park in Providence.
Mackenzie didn’t know she was in for the surprise of her life.
“She was sitting on the blanket and all the princesses come…and you could see in the look in her eyes like, ‘Is this really happening?’” said Miller. “’Is this a dream?’”
Actresses Caroline, Isabelle and Ashley played Belle, Cinderella and The Little Mermaid. They spent an hour singing, hugging and drinking tea with 22-month-old Mackenzie, while Seth and Audrey captured the whole thing on camera.
Check out the video of Mackenzie meeting the princesses for the first time here!
“We were there probably for about an hour because she did not want them to go,” said Audrey with a laugh.
“Every time a princess went to get up she would say, ‘No sit!’” said Seth.
The resulting images from the princess photo shoot are sweet, touching and heartwarming.
“Mackenzie, although so young, warmed our hearts with her distinctive personality,” said Isabelle. “She was silly, and funny, and really enjoyed drinking her pretend tea.”
“So many people have been commenting on the video and the photos saying that they got ‘teary.’ I think being there was that times a thousand,” said Audrey.
“The images are just wonderful, and whimsical, and really show off Mackenzie’s sweet personality,” said Isabelle.
Miller called the experience “breathtaking.”
And to give Mackenzie a true “happily ever after,” Miller says Mackenzie’s recent tests show no signs of cancer.
Kim Kalunian |