I don’t know photographer, Anthony Carbajal, and I am sure many of you don’t either, but he needs our help.
Anthony is a wedding photographer in Southern California. He began his business three years ago so he could work from home and be there to take care of his mother who suffers from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig disease). “Photography was something I’ve always been passionate about, but I never thought I could make a career out of my ‘hobby’… boy was I wrong. Starting a wedding photography business gave me the flexibility I needed for my mom and it was insanely fun… on weekends I would photograph “love” and on weekdays, I would help care for my mother and would edit in between.”
His grandmother also passed away from the disease when he was in high school. So, six months ago, when Anthony noticed that his hands were getting weaker and his arms began twitching, he suspected what the doctors ended up confirming, he had ALS. Lou Gehrig’s disease, according to the ALS Association, is “a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.” The motor neurons degenerate and eventually stop sending the signals to the muscles which then atrophy. The brain no longer is able to control the muscles.
Since his diagnosis earlier this week, Anthony has been forced to cancel 26 weddings and refund his brides almost $30,000 in deposits. Because the weight of the camera and the intensity of the wedding day, doctors warn Anthony that continuing to shoot weddings will speed up the disease. He is selling all of his camera equipment and his family is helping him raise funds for future medical bills since he can no longer work.
Friends describe Anthony as “an AMAZING human being.”
“Anthony is kind-hearted, generous and an inspiration to us all. He radiates joy, love and compassion. He loves to laugh, takes the most gorgeous photographs, has mad skateboarding skills, plays the acoustic guitar and is an artist at heart. He is LOVED by all, and he is a miraculous gift to our family and to everyone else who knows him.”
You can help raise support for Anthony. His YouCaring fund is at about 1/6th of the goal with 60 days to go. Also, leave a note of encouragement for Anthony on his Facebook page.
[Via @Fstoppers]
