Girl, 3, again wins photo contest

A cute smile and a poignant story helped Jaelyn Bura, 3, win the annual Creative Imaging Baby Photo Contest for a second time.

The contest benefits the Children's Miracle Network at Samaritan Medical Center.

The Felts Mills tot won the contest after her portrait received 4,195 votes last week. Her family sought donations — which were $1 for one vote or $5 for six votes — throughout the county as they told Jaelyn's story of living with velocardiofacial syndrome.

The genetic disorder comes with a combination of medical problems, including heart defects, according to the National Institutes of Health. For every growth spurt Jaelyn has, she'll need a heart valve replaced. By month's end, the Buras will find out when Jaelyn's next heart surgery will be. The girl's mother, Natasha L., said people who look at Jaelyn wouldn't even know she has the syndrome because she's an active child.

"She's definitely a fighter," Mrs. Bura said.

The veteran contest winner claimed her first Creative Imaging Baby Photo Contest grand prize in 2007, but this is the first year Jaelyn was present when she was announced as the winner.

When she won two years ago, Jaelyn was having her second open-heart surgery. She didn't end up taking her grand prize, an all-expense-paid trip for four to Walt Disney World, Orlando, Fla., until November. She and her mother, father Timothy J. and sister Jocelyn R., 7, will have a year to decide when their next Disney vacation will be.

More important than winning a family vacation, Mrs. Bura said, she was able to spread awareness about Children's Miracle Network.

Money raised within the north country stays in the region and assists families of children with medical crises in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.

The family's biggest sponsors included Champion Gravel Pit, Carthage, Natasha's Kiddie Shack Daycare, which Mrs. Bura owns in Felts Mills, and F.X. Caprara, Watertown.

"We just went to family and friends and a few businesses," Mrs. Bura said.

The Buras also were present during the double-vote day Sept. 30 at Salmon Run Mall. For every dollar donated, votes were doubled.

Jocelyn D. Mejias, director of the Children's Miracle Network at Samaritan Medical Center, said more than half of the total $20,407 raised came from double-vote day.

Mrs. Mejias said she's happy with the results, given the tough economic times.

People hoping their young child's photograph might win a prize will have to wait until spring 2011 for the next Creative Imaging Baby Photo Contest. Mrs. Mejias said she wanted to change the time of year the contest was held to coincide with Mother's Day.

"It'd be too much to turn around and do it for this spring," she said.

Other changes to the contest haven't been finalized, but Mrs. Mejias said Creative Imaging Fine Photography owners James H. and Kathy S. Naklick will stay on board as the contest photographers.