Who is Steve?

Steve is a photojournalist for the St. Petersburg Times in Florida, on an unpaid leave of absence. He is the devoted husband of Marian, the adoring father of Chloe (7) and Grant (4), the friend of many.



Steve and Marian have been married since 1997. Their lives revolve around their children. Until 2004, Marian taught Spanish at Central Florida Community College. Then she and Steve decided she would stay at home full time to home school their children. "She wanted her kids to be fascinated by the world around them, to make them curious about people, cultures and lands. She was the glue that kept us all together," Steve said. "When she wasn't teaching the kids, she read, she learned about other countries, she loved to fly kites, she cooked Mexican food, we'd go to the beach. She was so curious and vibrant and lively. We were just a really close family."



Marian was once a lifeguard; she loved swimming, art and drawing. She took every opportunity to teach the children by experience. The family went to the Everglades, to the Smoky Mountains, camping and exploring whenever they could.



Then, one night in April 2008, Steve and and his young family were confronted with a challenge few of us can imagine facing. Their family has since been thrust into turmoil and uncertainty.