The Sky is Falling

Veteran independent photojournalist Sandy Huffaker Jr. was at home working with his wife in a residential neighborhood of San Diego, California on December 8th when he heard the familiar sound of a jet inbound towards nearby MCAS Miramar. This time however, the sound was much louder and more powerful than any other time before. As he looked out of his front door he saw the F/A-18 lurching in the sky and soon after the pilot ejecting. Thinking quickly he nervously grabbed for his camera equipment and in the process dropped some of it while racing to the nearby scene, breaking a valuable lens in the commotion.

Photograph Copyright Sandy Huffaker Jr.

Living so improbably close to this accident made it possible for Sandy to be one of the first people on the scene to document the unfolding tragedy, all the while realizing that he could have been the news if the jet had crashed just a few blocks west of its final destination.


His photos of the accicent have run on the front covers of many newspapers running around the nation as well as internationally.

Remembering Kai Haug

A few days after Kai Haug's second birthday his parents noticed he wasn't hanging on to the swing with his left hand.  A couple of days later after getting off the swing he came over to get a drink out of a water bottle. The bottle had a flip top lid and when he tried to open it, his hand was limp.

-->>CLICK ANYWHERE TO VIEW KAI'S Story<<__ 

Kai Haug was 3 years old when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor in April 2006. He underwent surgery, followed by chemotherapy and radiation. A routine scan in April of 2007 showed progression of the disease. He underwent a 2^nd surgery and battled this disease with childlike faith and courage. 

-->>CLICK ANYWHERE TO VIEW KAI'S Story<<__ 

Kai was diagnosed on April 8, 2006 with a Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor. He underwent surgery on April 10,2006. In May he became a patient at St. Jude Children's Research hospital in Memphis, TN. He began 10 weeks of chemotherapy, followed by 6 weeks of radiation, followed by another 40 weeks of chemotherapy. A routine scan on April 9,2007 (8 weeks before he completed treatment) showed progression of the disease. On May 3, 2007 Kai underwent a second surgery to remove the tumor. 

-->>CLICK ANYWHERE TO VIEW KAI'S Story<<__ 

It was in July that I had the opportunity to actually meet Kai and his whole family, including his Father Eric and his wonderful mother Jenica.  Friends had arranged for them to come out to the beach in San Diego all the way from Las Vegas and have a portrait of the family taken.  I cannot even begin to tell you how much this little boy and his family has touched my life.  It was an experience that I will forever remember.

Unfortunately Kai passed last year on December 7th, 2007, but you can still see Kai and his mommy Jenica in this video for St. Jude's Research at around :39 seconds.  This holiday season I ask all of you, please contribute if you can so that we can prevent this from happening to anymore families.  Please go to St. Judes website by clicking here.

Ronnie Revoredo

RMR Photography