Help Me Hank: Pictures of the Past

Cathy Duso
"This is my favorite one."

And on that summer day almost five years ago, Cathy also hired a videographer to capture the memories on tape.

Cathy Duso
"I thought it would be a great thing to have in the future to show our children."

She never realized how brief the couple's future would be, shortly after the honeymoon, Cathy's husband became ill. The wedding video had to go on hold.

Cathy Duso
"Money was sort of an issue."

Cathy focused on her husband. They even had a baby boy. But the new family had little time left to be together.

Cathy Duso
"My husband died shortly after his first birthday."

Cathy was worried for her son…

Cathy Duso
"He doesn't have a lot of memories of his father."

But knowing pictures are the best memory makers, she thought of one special gift she could give her son. So she called that wedding videographer and hoped for the best.

Cathy Duso
"I figured, well it's a few years later, he may not have it."

But he did have it. He said all Cathy had to do was pay her balance and the tape was hers.

Cathy Duso
"So, I sent the check. He cashed the check."

A month went by, still no tape.

Cathy Duso
"So, I got a little concerned."

Five months and twenty calls later, Cathy was left with nothing but frustration.

Cathy Duso
"I was really, really upset about it."

It was a memory of her husband that inspired her next call.

Cathy Duso
"Every time we had a little problem, he would always say, ‘we're going to call Help Me Hank’ and he would laugh about it."

We tried contacting the videographer's company, but no one returned our calls. Finally, we tried him at home and told Cathy's story to the video guy's wife.

Cathy Duso
"He probably got some harsh words when he got home from work that day."

Three days later Cathy received this special box with her tape inside.

Cathy Duso
"I'm glad, so, so grateful that I got the tape."

What pictures are captured here, Cathy is not quite ready to see.

Cathy Duso
"It's something that I haven't been able to watch yet, but it’s something that I definitely will watch someday."

But just knowing what's inside lets Cathy now concentrate on the most important man in her life -- her son.

There is no regulation about how long a photographer has to save your pictures after an event, so make sure that very important information is specified in the contract you sign.