Stubborn Joy 

In March 2023, Pittsburgh artist, writer, social change facilitator, and all-around luminous human, Hanna du Plessis, received a terminal ALS diagnosis. Hanna was diagnosed with bulbar onset ALS, a type of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis that started by affecting her breath and speech and has since rendered her quadriplegic, unable to speak, and dependent on 24/7 care. Hanna was told to expect two years.

As her body deteriorates, Hanna has adhered to an ethos of “stubborn joy”, the decision to live fully while dying, and a commitment to writing.

For the last five months, Maranie Staab has spent more days than not with Hanna and the Careforce community, a group of chosen family who’ve collectively provided Hanna with an ever-increasing amount of care as ALS robs her of bodily autonomy.

Their love in action has and continues to meet the daunting tasks inherent in dying while wrapping Hanna in an expansive, loving embrace. This coordinated selflessness born of genuine care has been a gift to witness and provides an example of what is possible as we “walk each other home.”

Maranie Staab

Maranie Staab is an independent photographer, videographer, and journalist. Her work focuses on human rights and social justice issues, displacement, and the effects of conflict. Maranie strives for visual intimacy, to establish the trust necessary to get close to people and their experiences and to then share this with others. Given the option, Maranie prefers long-form documentary and often incorporates extensive text in her projects. A 2020 Pulitzer Center Reporting Fellowship recipient, Maranie is a proud alumnus of the Eddie Adams Workshop, winner of the 2019 Northern Short Course Student Photographer of the year, winner of the 2019 Best of Photojournalism Emerging Vision prize, and the first recipient of the Ed Kashi Fellowship at Newhouse, Syracuse University.