sypherphotography: November 2008

I'm thinking that the saying "everything happens for a reason" is a harder sell to some people than others. Early this March Kendra left her house on her way to school when a driver crossed into her lane and forced her off the road and into the woods.

I ran into her father, Ed, at Liberty's prom and asked him how he and his family was doing. I knew that Kalani didn't have the best luck in the draft and it was confirmed to me that he was indeed going to be heading to the land of maple syrup to begin his professional football career. He then introduced me to his daughter and told me about what had happened on the morning of March 4th. Not only that she had been in a coma, but also flat-lined on the way to the hospital in the helicopter. I immediately knew that it would be a good idea to spend as much time as possible with her and do a story in the newspaper that would conclude around the time that the students would be getting out of school for the summer. If a picture could deter just one kid from getting behind the wheel drunk or getting in the car with someone that had been drinking it would be well worth my time.

Kendra and I are actually polar opposites. She had a flawless driving record. When I was her age I had already crashed two cars and gotten in trouble for drag racing on my motorcycle...(I'll stop now because this list could go on for a while)

Above Kendra rehabilitates her right hand and wrist with Occupational Therapist Alicia Lutman on a device called the "power web", which strengthens the extensor muscles.

Scars from a tracheotomy.

One of the real "hooks" for this story for me was Kendra's drive to walk across the stage at her high school graduation. Before her accident she had her sights on setting the squat record at her high school. She was working out with 365 lbs. The football coach joked that she's stronger than half of the football team. Seeing her at physical therapy with Kristine Trimble really brought to my attention just how precious life is.

Kendra did all of her school work at her family's dinner table. Being the daughter of two teachers must have been a big help. Her mother, Lynettee, took time away from teaching to stay home with her.

Some things got a little crazy in the office just before graduation and I had to fire up an old D1X after borrowing a charger from a buddy. I never thought that the thing would make an appearance again...

When I got to the Nissan Pavilion on Saturday Kendra informed me that she and her doctors think that she tore her ACL during rehab. (Later I found out that she had strained her hamstring, a silver lining all things considered.) I got a little bummed. I didn't have the nerve to ask her if she thought that she could walk. "I'm sorry to hear that" was all I could really say. My stomach felt a little queasy with disappointment for her. Coming so far (death in fact) to doing pretty well in physical therapy in the weeks leading up to graduation and then re-injuring herself...what a bummer I thought.

As the "H's" started being announced by the senior class advisor I asked a little boy that was playing on the railing next to me to count the steps that Kendra would be taking, if in fact she wasn't going to be rolling across the stage in her wheelchair. As her name was called I was surprised to see her with cane in hand, doing her best one step at a time.