Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Castonguay.
Hi Rebecca, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
If I think back on it, I suppose it all really started when I was a little girl playing with my father’s Minolta camera. I enjoyed trying to see the world through the eyes of the lens and then going to a local camera shop to have the film developed. There was something exciting about not knowing whether or not the photos would turn out. More often than not, they were terrible images; I was just a kid – so I had no idea what I was doing, but every now and then there’d be this one shot that came out halfway decent and it made me want more.
Now, I’ve worn many hats as an adult in the workforce. Some fit better than others, but the one that fit best was becoming a professional photographer. For twelve years, I did it as a side hobby and hustle but there were reasons I wasn’t able to go full-time. Then the 2020 pandemic hit, and the entire world shut down. My job was on hold and there was so much uncertainty. I became pregnant, we got married – and life changed in every possible way. It was as if the universe sent me the unwavering signal it was time to make the change and I’m glad I finally listened.
You’re probably wondering about the name of my photography business and why it’s called, Moments with Ada. It’s not my name of course, but my great-grandmother’s and her story is one I wish I knew more about. Growing up with my grandmother (on my mother’s side), we’d have long conversations about life. I will always remember what a happy soul she was despite the difficulties she faced throughout life. The hardest thing for her was not knowing anything about her biological mother. Her mother died in 1930 at the age of 29 from sepsis. She and her siblings weren’t allowed to talk about her in the household. The manner of her death was tragic, but what’s more tragic is the idea that she never existed. There are no stories to her name – just a handful of photographs remain. The memories of Ada were wiped clean with her death and as a result, my grandmother grew up with a piece of her heart missing. Moments with Ada, keeps her memory alive and I believe that in sharing memories with my clients; it’s as if I’m sharing them with her. Creating lasting memories for generations to come. My goal is to leave a long-enough legacy that my children and grandchildren will be proud of.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Every great story begins with a struggle, it’s conflict and resolution. We’ve all been there and I’d be lying if I told you I was conflict-free. The struggles I’ve faced led me to where I am today. While I won’t get too heavy-handed into the personal side of things because it’s all in the past, it did make me stronger. If anything, it taught me that truly loving yourself and remembering who you are to your core is the only real way to survive. I think understanding pain allows me the opportunity to really see the light in others. I’m an empath, so at times, it becomes difficult for me to distance myself just enough to get the job done while still feeling for the other person. I’ve learned that we need to create healthy boundaries in life that allow us to not only feel for others, but to keep our minds and hearts healthy – its survival.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m not from Utah, but the circumstances of how I recently found myself there are, in fact, deeply inspiring. Let’s start from the beginning of the story. For the past five years, my talented friend Jamal Shuriah a Broadway dancer, singer, and actor, who I met in college at the Hartt School while studying musical theater has battled a rare kidney disease called FSGS – focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. It’s a fancy way of saying that this disease attacked his kidneys causing scarring and the inability to properly filter his blood which led to stage 4 renal failure. In December 2020, Jamal posted that he was undergoing a kidney transplant through the paired exchange program at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. It’s important for people to know that these types of programs exist all around the country if you find yourself in the horrible position of needing a kidney to survive. His friend Sam Quiggins agreed to donate a kidney on his behalf even though they weren’t a blood match – this type of exchange can set off a chain reaction of living kidney donations that save, literally hundreds of lives. Just one donation can save up to nine lives if you’re able to start a kidney swap just like Jamal’s.
Four days after the surgery I read a post from Jamal on Facebook – the kidney he received from a total stranger clotted and died. It was the most unlikely story ever. I had been following him for a while and when I saw that the kidney didn’t take, I turned to my husband (at 8 months pregnant) and said I won’t sit here and watch my friend die. I have to do something. I knew that my husband had a family member who had undergone two transplants and I asked him how she got the kidney. He told me how she started a Facebook page sharing her story and it happened. I asked Jamal if it was ok for me to do this and with his blessing and the help of a few other friends, findjamalakidney.com was born. I started his Facebook page, Instagram and built his website.
In the hospital’s recovery room, Jamal’s donor Kim Constantinesco lay in recovery next to him. There was only a curtain separating them when she overheard his name and decided to do a google search to find out more about the stranger she just donated her kidney to. A week later, she googled his name again and discovered what happened. Kim reached out through the website, shared who she was and she got me in response. We went back and forth for some time getting to know one another and Kim vowed to help me with the search for a new kidney. She told me she wouldn’t quit until we hit the finish line with a new kidney – and she stayed true to form. Kim ran marathons in his honor in NYC, made waves of getting his story out there. A friend of my husband was a news reporter and helped share his story which eventually reached yahoo news. (We are still waiting for it to go viral)
After many months of having leads and a few false starts, our luck finally changed. The story may not have gone viral, but the right person finally saw it. I received an e-mail from Laura Lawrence who at the time, lived in Arizona. She had recently done a google search for B+ kidney donation and Jamal’s website popped up. She read his story and decided then and there that he would be the recipient of her kidney donation. Laura sent bloodwork in and flew out to NYC from Arizona where we quickly discovered she was an exact tissue match to him. In September 2021, Laura and Jamal had the kidney transplant and mere weeks afterwards – Jamal began to fully recover.
By January 2022, he was back to himself; getting healthier every day and going back to audition for shows. Kim, Laura and I began a friendship through this and in April of 2022 all three of us flew out to see Jamal perform in, “Passing Strange” – his first show in over three years in Salt Lake City, UT. We vowed to sit together front row when he was finally able to share his gift again – and we did just that. The photos you see pictured are at the Bonneville Salt Flats where I could tell the story of Jamal and my friend Kim. The story of how three perfect strangers came together amidst all obstacles (and a pandemic) to help save the life of one man.
What makes you happy?
When the artistic work that I do makes an impact in the lives of others; raises awareness of social issues, helps individuals with identity or body positivity issues, overcoming life’s greatest obstacles or honoring celebrations – then I am truly happy. I’ve always been a helper, an empath; and this work gives me the voice and platform to make real change.
My family, my husband and my son are my entire world. I’m so grateful for the unwavering support that I have from my family to do what I love most. I must thank my parents who’ve always provided a safe and nurturing environment to grow up in, who raised me to be self-aware of others and to live my life every day in a way that I can be proud of. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.
Contact Info:
- Website: momentswithada.com
- Instagram: /momentswithada
- Facebook: /momentswithada
`
Image Credits
Headshot by Isabella Dellolio Photography
All photos are copyright and owned by Rebecca Castonguay, Moments with Ada Photography LLC
