When Rachel Perman told her son that he could celebrate his fifth birthday with a photoshoot, he naturally chose his favorite movie, “Up.” Elijah, 5, loves the Pixar classic, so dressing up as the characters was a dream come true.
Elijah dressed as Russel and came up with the idea of incorporating his 90-year-old great-grandparents, Carl and Ellie. Richard and Caroline Bain, real-life love birds, inspired the cartoon duo.
Perman, who is a part-time photographer, took the photos herself and posted them on Facebook, where they went viral. Elijah’s twin sister, Emilee, also had a birthday photoshoot. She decided to pose with a horse dressed like a unicorn.
Perman explained on Facebook that she doesn’t always post personal photos on her professional page, but these images took off on social media. She told CBS News the driving force behind the photoshoot.
“Five years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer right after my twins were born, and had fears if I would even get to see their fifth birthday,” Perman told CBS News. “My oldest was 5 at the time and I hated not knowing if I would get the same time with them that I got with her.”
She had been sick for approximately a year and is now in remission. She made it to her twins’ fifth birthday, something she was doubtful about. She wanted to celebrate in an amazing manner. “It’s a celebration for me and them!” she said.