(Savannah, GA) A rare cancer, Bilateral Retinoblastoma, changed the way 8-year-old Makayla Bouchea would see the world forever. Her father, Nicholas Bouchea, explained, “It’s cancerous tumors in the eyes, historically it’s usually one eye. She’s one of the rare that it’s both eyes.”
When Makayla was a year old, the cancerous tumors claimed one of her eyes. Today she only has 8-12% of her vision, yet her smile can still brighten a room. Her heart is still healthy, not to mention big enough to change the world one child at a time.
Having spent a lot of time in the hospital herself, Makayla said she wants other kids to know the hospital doesn’t have to be a scary place, “It’s nothing to be scare of; it’s just to make you feel better,” she said.
Partnering with Avon Cosmetics, she’s asked people to sponsor a Bentley Bear for other children at Backus Children’s Hospital on Memorial University Medical Center’s Campus. She too is seen at the oncology center at Backus for check-ups and knows visiting the hospital can be nerve-racking. In her words, a teddy bear will help make those visits less scary for children.
She said she’s hoping to collect at least 100 bears for the children there;
you can sponsor one of the $21.00 bears by clicking here. You’ll also learn more about the fundraiser.
Here’s the interesting part, the giving chain doesn’t stop at the hospital. Avon Representative Lauren Sharp explained, “By sponsoring one of these adorable little bears, every child at Backus Hospital will receive a bear and the donation part of it, the money aspect, goes to Companion Animal Aid so they can help with their expenses."
Companion Animal Aid is a locally run organization geared toward taking homeless animals off the street and placing them in loving homes.
Learn more about them here.
It’s Makayla’s volunteer work makes her stand out; however, her favorite activities remind you she’s still just a little girl. She said, “I like to go swimming and play with my friends and listen to music and play dress up.”
And those simple hobbies may be enough to inspire other children to live life to the fullest.
