I don’t do this often. In fact I don’t think I have ever done this. But something struck a chord in me about my friend Kandis and her family situation and I felt like I should share it with other.

Kandis Broadhead is the owner of Wish Photography. If we are a photographer, you might recognize her name for her photoshop action store and photography retreats she does! No only is Kandis a great photographer, she is one of the most open, friendly, sharing and caring gals I know. I remember the first time meeting her, I walked away feeling like we had been friends for a long time. I felt comfortable around her and that I could be myself without any judgement or reserve.

The Utah Women Photography network of amazing and we have fun dinner events at different local restaurants to just see each other all again. This last event, I showed up just a tad late, walked into a dim restaurant and looked around to see who I knew there. It didn’t take long to spot Kandis. She was entertaining an entire group of fun photographers. She can make an entire room of people laugh.  She is one beautiful talented and “beautifully unpredictable” woman.
Because Kandis is always so happy and cheerful towards others,  you forget that she ever had a bad day. Or that she might have personal struggles and trials to deal with, like everyone else. So maybe that is why I was so surprised when I heard about what her family was going through. Her husband David has had a hearing impairment all of his life. His hearing aids help him connect with the world. Until recently, this is all they needed. The last little while David hearing became substantially worse. It became obvious very quickly that in order for David to continue to hear, he will need a cochlear implant. Doctors have estimated that David will be completely deaf by time he is 40 years old. He is 37 right now. That is a mere 3 years away. A cochlear implant operation is not covered by insurance because David is over the age of 18. After several petitions to their insurance company, they are still left with the same answer. If David wants to continue hearing, they will have to pay for the $75,000 operation themselves.

I don’t think I am even aware of all of the details of the world I would miss if I lost my hearing. Kandis explained a little bit of how this would effect their family soon in a recent Facebook post.

“Imagine if this was you or your spouse. That they would never be able to hear their children again. Or imagine if you were never able to hear the world around you. Listen to what you hear now. I am sure you hear little things, like the refrigerator clicking on, the radio, the tv, the sound of a car driving by outside, the sound of laughter, the sounds of I Love You’s, the sounds of the world. ” 

Photo from Kandis Broadhead

I feel strongly connected to  these women photographers in Utah. They have helped me start a business, they have taught me, they have not judged me. I feel like so many of these women are family to me! They are my older sisters, they are my younger cousins. I adore these girls! Kandis is no exception. You can see her beautiful family below. Friends have set up a GoFundMe.com account to help contribute to the cost of the cochlear implant operation. Feel free to share with others a little of their story. I know that giving back to those you love and even inspired to help those you don’t know brings a happiness into your own.

Like what you see and need more?