JOHN’S NEW FUNDRAISING BOOK
There's a well-known saying that many professional photographers have adopted as a golden rule: “Never work with children or animals”. Veteran press photographer John Casamento spent five decades breaking that rule.
Now in his 80's, John has compiled a book of some of his best photos of animals and children to raise funds for children with heart defects. The book is aptly titled:
NEVER WORK WITH ANIMALS OR CHILDREN
“John's unique mastery of extracting stunning photos in the most challenging of conditions has culminated in this heart-warming and whimsical book, which is sure to delight.”
- Archimede Fusillo
Noah, then two years old, and his hungry dog ‘Sprocket’.
When John's grandson Noah was born with significant cardiac defects, his life was seriously at risk. With one ventricle (or heart pumping chamber) missing from his heart, over the next few years, Noah would need to undergo multiple open-heart surgeries at The Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, Australia.
At the age of four, Noah underwent a special operation called the ‘Fontan Procedure’ — a lifesaving medical technique that involves restructuring the heart to function more efficiently using only one ventricle. The Fontan Procedure is frequently saving the lives of babies born with severely malformed hearts.
“Born with half a heart”
Noah's heart surgeon Prof Yves d'Udekem describes the sick babies as being “born with half a heart”. Prof d'Udekem founded the Australian and New Zealand Fontan Registry at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute. This is a research initiative that follows the health and development of children treated for serious heart defects detected after birth. The Fontan Registry needs to raise $200,000 to continue its research, so it can continue to improve treatment options and the long-term health of its patients.
The Fontan Registry’s motto is: “a whole life with half a heart”. Without the Fontan Procedure, many ‘heart babies’ would lead severely disabled lives or would not survive at all. This surgery allows babies and children to have as normal a life as possible.
John wants to show his appreciation of his grandson Noah being able to lead a normal life by donating the proceeds from the sales of this book 'Never work with Animals or Children' will be donated to the Australian & New Zealand Fontan Registry and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute at The Royal Children’s Hospital.
