Ft. Lauderdale
chapter

While living in Columbus Ohio we were introduced to Flashes of Hope by a very good friend who is the Chapter Director in Cleveland. After hearing her story and seeing the images we were hooked. Shortly after relocating to South East Florida in the fall of 2009, my daughter MacKenzie and I held our... { more }

While living in Columbus Ohio we were introduced to Flashes of Hope by a very good friend who is the Chapter Director in Cleveland. After hearing her story and seeing the images we were hooked. Shortly after relocating to South East Florida in the fall of 2009, my daughter MacKenzie and I held our first photo shoot at Miami Children's Hospital in November 2010.
A statement by my daughter still resonates with me after all these years. She was working with the Columbus chapter for a senior project, after her first photo shoot she came home and said," it was the most exhausting, emotional and rewarding experience of her life "(all eighteen years of it). I knew right away I needed to be involved at some level.

After the first shoot we were approached by the Child Life Specialist at Chris Evert Children's Hospital in Ft. Lauderdale, and were asked to be involved at their location as well. As a result we have held shoots at both locations almost bi-monthly.

Every month driving home from a shoot I feel a little selfish, thinking I almost get more out of the photo shoot sessions than the families, but only because of the gift that they have given me. To see the courage, grace, and strength displayed by the children and their families is a huge gift to all of us that are fortunate enough to spend time with them. Their appreciation for our small gesture is humbling. I feel blessed to be a part of it.