Kamari is feisty, resilient, and goofy! Kamari was diagnosed with a Grade III supratentorial ependymoma at just 13 months old, and she just turned 3. She underwent three total gross resections: one at diagnosis in July 2024, another in September 2024, and a third after the cancer metastasized to her dura in October 2024. She completed proton radiation at MD Anderson, which required us to relocate to Texas for three months. She has been NED (no evidence of disease) since February 18, 2025, but this year she'll undergo another brain surgery to replace the dural patch, which has started seeping fluid. As a single mom, I quit my job to be with her through treatment, and we spent most of 2024's holidays, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas in a hospital setting instead of at home.

As a single mom and the only income for our household, Angels Among Us covered the majority of our rent each month throughout Kamari's treatment, which meant I could actually breathe instead of scrambling to figure out how to pay bills every month. That support let me focus on being present with my daughter instead of stressed about finances. During Christmas 2025, while we were in the middle of scan season, AAU included Kamari in their Christmas gifts; it came at a moment when I was really struggling, and it meant more than they probably know. Beyond the financial help, AAU has made our family feel seen and celebrated during a time that could have just felt like survival.