When I was
little, I dreamed of one day owning my own horse and being a vet at a zoo.
I felt a special connection to animals. However, all that changed suddenly when
I was diagnosed, at age seven, with brain cancer. The surgery, chemo and
radiation treatments were horrible. In fact, in order to get me to cooperate
during my treatment, my parents promised me an animal at the end of every
treatment cycle. It was from my animals that I gained strength to
endure my illness.
Animals have helped me
in ways that no person ever could because animals aren't judgmental. They don't
care if you have hair, can't walk that well or whatever the reason might be.
They just love you for you and not for your appearance or abilities.
My high school
photography teacher first noticed my talent and encouraged me to share my
love of animals through my photography. She told me I had the potential to
tell stories through my pictures. While attending classes in early childhood
development, I was given an assignment to create something that would show how
I saw my role as an early childhood teacher. Even though I knew my dream of
being a vet was over, I would not let go of my dream of working with animals. I
wanted to combine my love of animals with my future career in early childhood
education. I decided to put together a children's book that would develop
an appreciation in children to see the beauty and detail of all
animals. I want children to look further and see more than just
an animal and see the smile on the elephant's face or the tear in
the horse's eye.
The cancer and its treatment
left me with limitations. Despite the fact cancer took many things
from me, it did not take my love for life, especially my love for animals
and wildlife. I hope I can tell stories through my pictures and words that
will teach young children how precious life is and how we need to
take care of the world we live in.
*****
Sarah E. Sauer is a childhood brain cancer survivor. She is
also an animal lover. Sarah’s love of animals was something she drew on for
strength throughout her illness. In her first children’s book, Sarah shares her
love and respect for wildlife animals through her photos she took for her high
school digital photography class. Sarah is currently studying early childhood
education and hopes to share her love and knowledge of animals to promote and
develop an appreciation of wildlife in young children. She currently lives in
Corydon, IN with her family and her horses, llamas, donkey, cats and dogs.
Sarah E. Sauer’s animal
photography children’s picture book, What
Do You See When You Look at Me? engages her young readers with bright and
colorful photos and invites them to see more than just an animal but to look at
the beauty of each creature in detail.
Find out more about Sarah E. Sauer and her book at the World
of Ink Author/Book Tour, visit http://tinyurl.com/carfswr
