Mother was Offered a Book Deal instead of a Loan to Help her Little Girl with Cancer

By Myrlande “M.C” Charelus

mcharel@eagle.fgcu.edu

Ka’mya Bryant was only 6 months old when she, her mother, her grandmother and her aunt were involved in a fatal car accident on I-75.   When the car flipped seven times, she and her mother, Gerley Charles, were the only two who made it out alive.

Gerley, a 21-year-old mom who’s raising her two daughters, Ka’mya 5, Ka’mora 2, and she is also raising her little brother. When asked about her father, who lives in the Bahamas, she said he was never in their lives even after their mom passed away.

Ka’mya was only 4 years old when her mom was giving her a shower and felt something that didn’t feel right on her little girl’s stomach. Charles called her doctor, but he told her he was unable to see Ky’mia until the next month. As scared as she was, Charles decided to take her to the E.R instead of waiting for the next month, and that’s when she discovered Ka’mya had Wilms cancer– a kidney cancer that primarily affects children.

On September 8, 2010, Ka’mya went through her first surgery when a one-pound tumor took over her kidney.

“She has been through a lot”, says Charles, “she has been through a car accident, and she’s been through death, chemotherapy and life support.”

Charles continues to say, “She lost her hair and she doesn’t go to school.”

When asked if Ka’mya knows what was going on, she responded by saying,” yes, one day she asked me what was going on, I sat down with her and showed her an episode of Arthur, one episode about cancer.”

In honor of Ka’mya, Charles founded Dream High Foundation, a non-profit organization. Its aim is to help young kids with talents and dreams.

“I’ve seen a lot of things with the kids, and my goal is to reach to every kid, let them know dreams don’t have an age limit and to let them showcase their talents” says Charles. Because of Ka’mya’s illness,

Charles lost her job, she couldn’t make it to work every day. When she had asked for a loan to start her foundation, Dave Maine, who is an author offered her a book deal instead.

“I want Ka’mya’s story, not mine,” and she decided not to go with the book, but to focus more on her daughter.

Ka’mya has been invited to Chicago by Lounge Showcase, an organization that arranges for kids to see agents at the end of the show. Charles plans to give back to the community if Ka’mya wins the showcase. She also plans to get her foundation site as soon as possible.

“People ask me all the time why am I doing all this for a kid, even if I have to use my income tax money? I am going to get a place,” added Charles.

She lives an everyday life as if it was her last day, but Ms. Charles’ goal is for the Dream High Foundation to be a long-term organization so her daughter can see all the good they have done for her when she turns 18.