August 26, 2026
Day 27 – Final Health Post and Vision Thoughts
My first goal with this blog post is to send it out without showing the HTML! Let’s hope you receive a simple summary and a red button to read the full post.
Health Update:
I’m on the mend! My sepsis is under control. The serum sickness will take longer, but I’m improving. I’m very weak and can only do a little each day before I’m exhausted, in bed, and napping! They say it will take about 6 weeks to regain my strength.
Sadly, I had to cancel Out of Chicago, Grand Teton. A friend, David Cobb, has stepped in to take my place. My condolences to David for having to spend a week with John.
Gratitude:
One of the two significant things that occurred during my ordeal is that I can now see love. Let me try to explain, because it sounds weird and a little “woo woo,” as Brooks likes to say. When I see simple acts of kindness, like the many I have received from you all, I am filled with an overwhelming feeling of love and appreciation. And usually lots of tears.
A friend sent me this:
According to the National Library of Medicine, approximately seventeen percent of the population has had a near-death experience. One of the most universal reports among survivors is having felt a supernormal love that defies description. Some call that love God. Others call it Source. Regardless, most people come back from the other side with an unforgettable sense that they are loved no matter what.
Everyone has been so kind, so supportive, so caring during this time, and my words of thanks are woefully inadequate.
I feel loved.
Thoughts on Vision:
Vision is a concept that is so very difficult to understand. I spent two years trying so hard to find mine, but it wasn’t until I just “let go” that I finally had my “ah ha” moment while photographing The Angel Gabriel.
As I stood there, I could see what I wanted that final image to look like. In a way, I took two images that day: one with my camera and one with my Vision (or voice or imagination). That Vision of how I wanted the final image to look was burned into my memory, and it became my road map for how to photograph Gabriel and then how to process the image.
At that point, I was two years into my Vision quest and didn’t feel like I was making any progress. I was giving up because I thought maybe I didn’t have a Vision. But looking back, I think giving up was so very important. I had let go of the rules and conventions; I stopped following what others did; I ditched the marketing plans that were supposed to bring me success; and I stopped trying to walk in the footsteps of my photographic heroes.
And I had stopped trying to understand Vision logically…it cannot be understood that way.
Vision is simply being yourself, seeing for yourself, and creating what you love. Doing what feels right even if EVERYONE says you should do it differently. Vision lets you ignore how others do things and do things your way. Vision allows you to ignore what others think of your work and love what you create. Vision is the opposite of “success” as the world defines it.
Vision is just who you are. It goes way beyond photography; it’s how you live your life, honestly.
So if you still struggle with the concept of Vision, or wonder if you have one…you do, I promise.
Forget all that you think you know about photography, and just let go.
I am so glad you are on the road to recovery. Be kind to yourself and know that you make the world a better place by being you and sharing your vision! I hope to meet you in person soon.
So glad that you are on the mend. You have many friends in Cary Photographic Artists, and we wish you a speedy recovery.
Cole,
Thanks for sharing your search. And staying in touch during your healing process. I hope you continue to feel better and can use your experience in new and interesting ways. Best wishes for good health and interesting work, Bonnie.
Cole,
Thanks for sharing your search. And staying in touch during your healing process. I hope you continue to feel better and can use your experience in new and interesting ways. Best wishes for good health and interesting work, Bonnie.
I am so relieved to receive this message!! The last thing I heard was sepsis and I was praying so hard to whoever might be listening. The only other friends I’ve had who developed Sepsis died. It’s is a nasty, hard to treat infection. I am so pleased Cole. I’ll be praying you continue winning the battle until it is done. Thank God!!
One day at a time. So happy you are healing each day. Thank you for your thoughts on vision. Very helpful.
Hi, Cole. Good to hear you are doing so well! You still have more recovering to do, but you are on the mend. What you said about Vision really resonated with me, more than you can imagine. I’ve been struggling trying to understand my Vision and you said it so well. Your words made me understand so much more I couldn’t find the thoughts or words to describe. Thank you for your help, and thank you for keeping us updated. Get well soon.
You looked the end right in the eyes and said,
not today.
This is great news. Even though we have never met we have that friendship and understanding of each other. Our bond is the VISION. The appreciation for honest work and being good human beings.
Recovering will take time but you will make a full recovery. All of us are here for you.
Take care my friend. Gill.
Hi Cole,
Glad to hear you are do so well with your recovery. When I look at my copy of the Angel Gabriel hanging on my wall I think about you.
Best wishes.
Great to hear that your recovery is continuing Cole and that the sepsis is under control.
Also happy the you and John had so many episodes “in the can” that we can still follow your thoughts ad observations on vision and creativity.
Take your time to get stronger, from personal experience I had to learn the differences between short, medium and long term recovery, each step is important and not let your ego into tricking you about moving from 1 phase to the next.
Thinking of you.
Cole God bless you. Keep healing my friend Be well.
Chuck zovko
So glad you are going in the right direction, Cole! I was worried that there hadn’t been any recent updates. Please, don’t rush it. Take your time. The biggest mistake I made in my struggle was thinking that I was the toughest guy in the world and could push through anything.
So glad you are feeling better. Hoping each day brings you closer to your “old self.” (I can say that…I’m 79!) Hang in there, Cole!
Cole, all the horrible and painful days are behind you.
Now comes the healing part with the help of all your friends who care for you and want you to regain your strength.
Take a good care of yourself and I know you will look forward to leaving 2026 far behind…….
Cole, I’m so glad you are on the mend. When I look at your prints on my wall I think of you and your vision. You have been a wonderful teacher and inspiration. Thankyou.
Honestly, you must be getting my thoughts, cuz just today, I was thinking, “I need to check in on Cole, see how he’s coming along.” That feeling of being overwhelmed with emotion, when it leaks out of your eyes because there’s nowhere else for all that gratitude to go. Take it slow and enjoy the naps. So happy to hear you are over the sepsis, and mending.
you most definitely ARE loved!!!!!
glad you’re still on the mend. you, especially, know the meaning and importance of patience.
The depth of achievement your openness
I hear your advice often, read about you often
The vagueness in grasping process, concepts
Profoundness in work, thoughts, sharing
You have found yourself in so many ways
Thank you for letting so many see your skies.
Cole, I am just seeing your journey from the creepy bite. You are strong and resilient! Big hugs, rest and take your meds:))).
Your thoughts on finding your vision keeps me focused when you post that thought. Totally puts me back on track. Thank you! And, I look forward to seeing you photographing healthy!
Hi Cole! You’ve given the best news of the day! Glad to hear you are on the way to recovery. As for love, kindness and tears – a gift that takes you deeper into life. Although I didn’t have a near death experience, but as far as I can remember, I have always been touched to tears when witnessing love and kindness (even watching movies). This made me feel embarrassed in front of others, but your example tells me that I should treasure it. From now on, I’ll call it vision for my life.
Wow! What a journey you have been on. Wishing you a peaceful recovery.
The love that surrounds you and is within you will carry you to health.
Such good news overall. I know the steps that you’re walking through now are still an ordeal, but I’m hoping you will improve as fast as I did a year ago after being in the hospital with an illness. I had no energy afterward, but it was amazing to see Life come back all on its own and much faster than I expected. And I know what you mean about seeing Love. I was so well cared for by medicals and friends. Truly amazing. Best to you
Very happy to get this great news! Hope recovery is swift and steady, and you’ll be back to your old shenanigans soon. Sending you healing vibes, thoughts and prayers, and a big virtual HUG! Take care of yourself, and listen to the nurses. 🥰🙏
I’ve been praying for you, your healing and full smooth recovery! I’m so glad it seems you’ve found a new deep understanding of love and God, that is the most important blessing of all!
Cole – your postings always inspire and uplift me. I am so glad you are finally starting to feel better. I’ve been very moved by your sharing of the emotional effect your experience has had. Love, kindness, really seeing each other. It’s all about that isn’t it? And you make me want to spend more time asking myself, “What is my vision at this time of my life?” Thank you!
Still can’t believe you stuck your hand in the mouth of a rattler to get out of spending another week with John Barclay… now that’s impressive indeed.
Love ya man… spend time getting well and gaining strength, and use the power of so much love to help you on this journey. You are loved because you love… without having awareness or insight, you have loved so many personally and even more secondarily through your art, passion, overt teaching, and especially your vision, something that has touched millions, and leave a wave of energy that continues like the warm healing wind from the butterfly.
Even in the depths of your illness, you have been an inspiration!
Aloha e Cole,
I’m so glad you’ve experienced the warm embrace of Zone X and not the dreaded Zone I. I’m so excited to see what develops going forward. Now get out there and break some rules.
Aloha,
Bob
Trust LOVE !!
You have all of my respect. I wish that we were personal friends.
Hugs from the True North.
XOXOX !!! COLE — YOU ARE A WALKING, BREATHING, LOVING MIRACLE WITH A VISION !!!
CONGRATULATIONS ON JOINING THE NDE ALUMNI CLUB !!!
XOXOXOX
Thank you for You! Many blessings, much love and Aloha. Namaste.
You are a totally inspirational person. So glad to hear you are on the road to recovery. Your photography, quotes & vision are extraordinary. Thank you & best wishes for your continued recovery.
I did not see the beginning of this journey of yours through your disease process, but it sounds very scary. I have been going through my own scary experience, just barely escaping sepsis due to my colon invading my bladder and dripping its contents into it. I had a life-saving sigmoidectomy and fistula removal robotic surgery on 8/21/26, Unlike your recovery, my minimally invasive surgery recovery will be approximately one month. I wish that yours would be short like mine. I am experiencing the same feeling of love for others and a release of anxiety of how I am able to perform in photography, which for me is just a hobby I love. And I feel more relaxed in all other aspects of life. I have seen the photos you posted in your last post many times. So amazing and impactful. It is unbelievable to me that you could ever feel even a tiny tiny tiny bit of insecurity about your photography!! I joined a a women’s Bible study group about 6 months ago, right before my health problems started. I am now a total believer in the power of prayer, and know that the close calls I had that were avoided by me being my own advocate, and me finding the right surgeon, were not luck, but small miracles. I am so much more at peace now, and I hope it lasts. I am going to look up your entire journey with this health scare and keep track if when you get out to teaching again. I may end up in one of your workshops, I have always greatly admired your BW art and would love to make a BW that I could be proud of. No need to answer this. I am praying for you!
Great news, Cole .
Trusting that you will soon be back to normal.
All the best from Knysna, South Africa.
Haiku:-
Acceptance brings peace.
Passing our understanding
God’s love! Your vision.
Recovering requires our patience and trust in believing and staying positive.
Let go and let God’s love be your strength.
Hi Cole
So good to hear that you are on the mend. Take good care of yourself, and remember that things cannot be rushed. If you feel the urge to nap – it’s your body telling you that’s what it needs. Go to it.
Regards – Diane from Lincolnshire England
Great to hear you are getting better. Even if it might be a slow process, thankfully, it is going in the direction of health and full recovery. I have always very much appreciated your perspective on Vision… so how do you think this experience may affect yours? Has it brought to mind possible new projects? It seems that perhaps, with your Auschwitz portfolio, you may have inadvertently touched on the nature of what comes next… maybe you could explore that further with your images in some way? I’ll be interested to see where you go from here. Just a thought. Welcome back!
You are an inspiration. Thanks for sharing. Your advice on Vision leads us when stymied.
Hi Cole
So sorry to hear of your recent trauma. I cannot imagine what you have experienced, but thankfully you are now on the road to full recovery, and with a some bonus emotions too. I am sure these will manifest themselves in your vision. I look forward to seeing the results
I have started dabbling with writing poetry to some of my images and find it so rewarding. Who new I could even write poetry I didn’t! Till I tried.
Very best wishes for your full recovery, from Kent – England.
Mike
Cole – I’m so sorry to hear about all that you’ve gone through but am really happy that you’re on the way to getting well. God bless and wishing you al the best with a speedy recovery.
Thanks for the update Cole. Numerous people around the world are and have been thinking of you. Fortunate is too inadequate too, to describe surviving sepsis. Take good care and no need to rush anything. We are thinking of you frequently, whatever.
Best wishes
Howard Wilson, Whitley Bay, England.
So glad you are on the mend. And don’t stop shooting, even from your window. There’s lots to see, even in your back yard.
Such good news Cole. Continue to rest and care for yourself, and for sharing the journey with us. It is a reminder to each of what is most important as we live out our lives.
Hey Cole,
You’re on your way both physically and spiritually.
Everyone is pulling for you.
I’m looking forward to your new photographs and feel that your vision may be a little different now.
Whew Cole!!! Sepsis?? I just saw this. Thank God you’re on the right side of the grass now!! The right people were put in front of you at the right time.
Relish the naps. They help the healing. Thinking of you. Marilyn (ontario, Canada)
Cole,
Though we have never met, I am so grateful to hear that your health is improving!
As a subscriber to your you tube podcasts with John, you help me gain confidence and fulfillment in my photography hobby and in my ability to produce meaningful work. I am forever grateful to you for that.
Know that you are loved and revered by many (evidenced by the many responses to this recent post). I pray that you will continue inspiring me and the thousands of other photographers with your thoughts on vision and honest work.
You have no idea how thankful your audience is of your sharing your thoughts on vision and photography!
All the best,
Steve Brady
Not many of us would make something positive out of this experience. Maybe a book is in your future!?
“It’s been a long dark night
And I’ve been a-waiting for the morning
It’s been a long hard fight
But I see a brand new day dawning” Dolly Parton RIP.
Hi Cole! WOW! What a time you have had. We are so glad to see you are getting better. One day at a time–don’t over-do it–
Many best wishes from your friends at the Columbia Camera Club, South Carolina
Glad to hear and see you are healing well. Will be interesting to see if, or how your Vision will evolve.
Hi Cole! So happy to know you are on your way back. I can’t imagine a world without you. So much can be learned from the events of our lives. The eyes and heart can be opened further than we could imagine. It’s in the doing, not the done. Take care and heal completely!
🥳. 👍.
Hi, You sure have been on an adventure Cole. I’m so happy to hear that you are on the mend. Take care, now, and rest. I continue to send my healing energy your way.
Diane
Great news, glad you are on the mend. I am curious to see if your vision and how you photograph changes, if any. With the worst behind you, continue to improve and create some wonderful art.
Cole – this is great news you are sharing. It has been quite the road you travel to wellness. You and your work are an inspiration for me. Still trying to know what my vision is and how to be authentic to that vision. Letting go and being open to experience is great advice – as usual.
So glad to hear you’re on a slow but sure road to recovery.
So glad to hear of your progress Cole. Not only your health’s progress, but perhaps your evolution as well. Always share!
Cole–You have LOTS of friends! That makes you very rich indeed!
I’m very happy that you are rcovering from the severe after effects of a Rattlesnake bite. When you approach death, either through a near-death experience or loss of a someone you dearly loved, it can change you profoundly. When my wife passed in 2016, I became a more compassionate person, more aware of other people’s feelings. Keep on healing and let the healing happen at its own pace. God bless you!
You are love
How lucky you were to recover from so many life threatening events and how lucky you were to have a wife with the dedication and skills to help you through the ordeal!
You are a survivor who is admired for your stamina!
May your recovery continue knowing how many of your followers send their positive thoughts!
Minute by Minute…
Step by Step
Your Healing Occurs!
Appreciate Your Sharing Your Journey!
As Well As Your Vision!
Since You Mentioned LOVE…
WITH THAT MOON LANGUAGE
Admit something:
Everyone you see, you say to them,
“Love Me.”
Of course you do not do this out loud;
Otherwise,
Someone would call the cops.
Still though, think about this,
This great pull in us to connect.
Why not become the one
Who lives with a full moon in each eye
That is always saying
With that sweet moon
Language
What every other eye in this world
Is dying to
Hear.
__Hafez
Aurora, Colorado…With Loving Care
Very happy to read of all this positivity
There are easier ways to get out of spending time with John, for crying out loud!
Jokes aside, I’m so glad you’re well on the mend. Here’s to a continued speedy recovery!
I’ma little late in responding, Cole, since Bonnie and I are traveling in the Maritimes and try my best to stay out of email. It’s great to hear that you’re on the mend and now it’s a week plus into it, so you must be even better. In your honour, while traveling, we’re staying away from all snakes, so we’re safe! Take care and continue to feel the love.