Quilts

Kandice

"Kandice was born in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on 16 April 1994. She was born 3 months early and weighed only 1 pound 6 ounces at birth, but was born a fighter and grew to run, laugh, and learn like others despite being disabled. Kandice was adopted when she was 2 1/2 years old and immediately bonded with our family including aunts, uncles, cousins and friends, and grandparents. She was loved by all.

She loved animals, big or small and enjoyed being around them. She took two years of horseback riding lessons and spent time on a ranch helping with animals. Kandice also loved children and enjoyed tickling, changing diapers, or feeding them. She was an awesome Aunt!

Kandice was kind, generous, driven, and loving. Even though she had her physical challenges she was always looking for ways to serve and help others. She volunteered her time numerous places around town cleaning, babysitting, helping the elderly, and picking up trash. She loved being around others.

Kandice also attended an outdoor sleepaway girl's camp every summer for four years. She completed all the signoffs and goals to graduate from camp. Kandice never let her handicaps hold her back and always found ways to accomplish what her goals. As she grew it was amazing the progress she made. If she wasn't capable of a task she found a way around it. Kandice attended an early morning religion class and she was required to read the scriptures every day but because she recently had vision problems it was not possible. So she suggested the scriptures on CD and she listened to them in the evenings. This enabled her to complete the requirement to graduate from four years of seminary.

Kandice attended all four years of high school and graduated. She was enjoying working at various places around town through a program with the school district when she fell ill. She spent the last five months of her life in the hospital, but was able to make it home for Christmas.

When Kandice signed up for a state id she chose to become an organ donor. Her parents respected and agreed with that decision. Kandice was always helping others, in an act of final service she was able to help others who couldn't help themselves. Although we continue to grieve, her act of love and kindness to others continues to give us comfort. Her life has changed and brought joy to so many others."