Concord Monitor in New Hampshire that captured the last months of a mother’s life and her family’s struggle to cope with her death from liver cancer.
“It’s so incredible,” Gannaway said by phone from New Hampshire after learning of the prize, journalism’s highest honor. “I’m just so amazed that of all the brilliant work people do every day that this would be honored. It’s so humbling.”
During the nearly two years she worked on the story, Gannaway earned the trust of Carolynne St. Pierre and her family, who hoped the project would help Carolynne’s children remember her after she died.
Gannaway joined the family on trips to the beach, the hospital and as Carolynne read to her young son. When Carolynne died at home last February, surrounded by family, Gannaway was there.
Before the award was announced Monday, she spent time with Carolynne’s husband, Rich, who joined her at the
Monitor Monday afternoon to celebrate with cake and champagne. He brought with him a framed photograph of Carolynne.
It was exactly four years from the day that Carolynne was diagnosed with cancer, Gannaway said.
Rocky newsroom, staff applauded as the announcement appeared on the newswire. They were joined by Gannaway’s mother, Cantey T. Kelleher, who was in town helping her daughter move.
“I’m just so proud,” Kelleher said. “Preston is a quiet, conscientious artist. . . . She’s always been very sensitive. She was the right person for this story.”

rockymountainnews.com


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