This is an installment of  the occasional series of “Throwback Thursday” posts featuring photos from my archives.

While working at the Daily Press in Victorville, Calif., I often paired up with feature writer Stuart Kellogg on assignments. One of the most memorable took place in 1996: our story on Matt Morales, a 7-year-old cancer survivor.

During the course of the interview, Matt was showing Stuart the thermoplastic mask he wore during radiation treatments. It was hard mesh and formed to Matt’s head. On the left temple there were guides mapping where Matt’s brain tumor was located. I asked Matt if he would put it on.

The resulting picture was riveting. You can’t help but realize that Matt, at age 7, had gained a perspective about life most 40-year-olds have never contemplated.