Home for Kamora

In the Spring of 2015 my principal told me I was going to have a new student in my class the next year.  I was told she had a traumatic brain injury as a result of shaken baby syndrome and abuse from her father.  I had taught for 16 years, but never had a child with such severe needs.  I spent the summer worried.  Would I be able to meet her needs?  What would the other kids think?  I met Kamora the week before school started and I went home a bawled my eyes out.  I think every staff member at the meeting cried that night.  We cried for the life this little girl lost.  She would never chase her big brother around the house, or scream at her sister for borrowing her favorite sweater.  She will never have a sleepover or taste ice cream on a hot day.  Beyond all these simple pleasures every kid deserves she can’t tell me she is cold, or hurt, or sick.  She has no way what so ever to tell us how she feels or what she thinks about anything.  This beautiful child born perfectly healthy and happy, will never be able to be a typical child because her life was taken from her and she was left in a partial vegetative state. I also met her sister that day.  Kolissa is 11 months older and full of sass and life.  She loves her sister, Kamora, with all her heart and will spend time reading to her and snuggling her, but it is hard not to picture what Kamora would look like or what her personality would be like when you look at Kolissa.  This horrific act of abuse did not just affect Kamora.  It changed the life of every family member.  Her mom will forever be her care giver.  She could no longer work out of the home and has very little time to have a normal adult social life.  Her siblings are care givers and though are given as many opportunities as possible to have normal experiences, their lives have to revolve around Kamora’s care.  Every activity, every trip, even simple grocery store runs have to be planned out and thought out.  After a long day Kamora is most comfortable at home. 

As the school year progressed I got to know her entire family.  Her mom Lisa, is very guarded for so many reasons, but we connected over our giving nature.  Lisa never stops giving to all those around her.  Everyone who knows her thinks she has a heart of gold.  Kamora had one of her many back surgeries that school year and had to be home for a few weeks.   I arranged to go visit my sweet girl.  When I showed up at their apartment I was surprised four people were living in such a small space.  Kamora’s bed is in the middle of the living room because her hospital bed and all the equipment doesn’t fit into an apartment size bedroom.  Her family has no space to gather as a family because her bed takes up the space.  Over the two years that I have known this family, never once have I heard any of them complain.   Not once about their small home, or Kamora, or not being able to go to an activity.  They are all very matter of fact about their life and what they deal with because to them it isn’t the tragedy I see it is just their life.  I often am amazed at how well Lisa handles it all, I would be a pile of tears and anger, but she just gets up every day and gives her family and friend her all.  I guess because what other choice does she really have?  She loves her kids and though what happened to Kamora is terrible and so unfair, it happened and now she has to make the most of it.   

Lisa over the time I have known her has shared her story in pieces, I know it can’t be easy.   When she talks about making the decision to take Kamora off life support, or how she gasped for air for hours until she breathed on her own, it rips my heart out.   When she shares her worries about Kamora’s father being released from jail or how her children were taken from her during the investigation and how helpless she felt I wish I could take away some of the pain.  There is not much I can do to help make this families life better, but one thing I can do is try and make their life a little easier.

A larger space for this family to live where Kamora has space for therapy and the other kids have space to play could make a huge difference to their quality of life.   A home equipped with handicap accessible showers and lift systems would make moving and bathing Kamora more comfortable for Kamora’s fragile body and easier on her mom.   A home could change their lives!

We are raising money to provide a home that fits the family and their special needs.  Lisa has qualified for about half of what she needs for a home big enough for her family and accessible for Kamora.   Please consider donating any amount at all to help make this dream of mine a reality for an amazing and deserving family.