Dan Krauss (Ohio University)
Isaac Maccombs
Gold
Domestic Picture Story
Isaac Maccombs was born with cerebral palsy and is unable to care for himself or communicate effectively. He relies on his parents for survival and needs constant supervision. Beth and Rex Maccombs do whatever they can do to give him the same opportunities as other kids his age and make excessive sacrifices in their personal lives to do so.
Story: Isaac Maccombs
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Isaac Maccombs sits at the lunch table at school after being fed on October 31, 2008. He attends Beacon School, which is a school for handicapped children in Athens, Ohio.
Story: Isaac Maccombs
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Beth Maccombs does her grocery shopping with her son Isaac at the local Kroger in Nelsonville, Ohio on November 1, 2008. Beth makes it a point to bring Isaac along with her for normal day-to-day outings in public. She wants him to be out in the community like other children even though it makes running errands much harder on herself.
Story: Isaac Maccombs
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Isaac Maccombs watches as his father, Rex Maccombs, gets ready to clean Isaac's first deer after hunting outside their home. Rex helped Isaac operate the gun and make the kill. "I helped him succeed. When you have kids, you like to see them succeed," said Rex.
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Isaac Maccombs lets out a loud squeal as his father, Rex Maccombs drives him around in his ATV on the property in Athens, Ohio on Sept. 21, 2008. Rex installed a car seat on the ATV to allow Isaac to ride along with him.
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Beth Maccombs raises her hand during worship in church Sunday morning, Nov. 23, 2008 at the New Hope Assembly of God in Lancaster, Ohio. The sermon was on being thankful for everything you have, including hardship. Beth sings along, "I thank you, and I think you Lord."
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Beth Maccombs brushes Isaac Maccombs teeth before putting him to bed. It is hard for her to brush his teeth because his instinct is to bite down on the toothbrush. Nelsonsville, Ohio on Oct. 1, 2008.
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Isaac Maccombs squirms in bed while he sleeps in between his parents, Beth and Rex Maccombs. It is hard for them to get a good night of rest because he moves around in bed so much and makes noise.
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Rex Maccombs carries Isaac Maccombs down a hill in their back yard in Nelsonville, Ohio after letting him help operate the backhoe on November 1, 2008. Rex likes to give Isaac the chance to work with him whenever possible.