Kaylah, a 12-year-old, received her professional art supplies gift at her home in South Elgin, Illinois on Sunday, September 6, 2020.
Kaylah is receiving treatment for leukemia at Lutheran General Hospital – Advocate Children’s Hospital in Park Ridge, IL. Kaylah was diagnosed last month and while she was at the hospital, she heard about Alyssa Alvin Foundation for Hope’s (AAFH) gift program from Caitlin Agrawal-Childlife Specialist. Kaylah submitted her online gift request on our website and her professional art supplies gift was promptly assembled. The professional art supplies gift included acrylic and watercolor paints, oil pastels, synthetic and natural hair brushes, charcoal and colored pencils, desk top easel, various media paper for acrylic, watercolor, tracing, sketching, canvas panels, artist carrying case and much more.
When the door at Kaylah’s home opened, we met her Mom-Damaris, her Dad-Luis, Kaylah’s 15-year-old brother, Kadriyel, and younger brother-Kaleb, who was eager to show us his own pieces of artwork too.
Kaylah has been painting art most of her life along with her siblings and received instruction from their Dad who also enjoys being creative and writing Calligraphy. Her Mom, Damaris, had worked at Kaylah’s school and now devotes her time to Kaylah’s care as well as keeping up their beautiful home. Damaris was proud to show us some of Kaylah’s art journals as well as paintings of positive messages that Kaylah did. The whole family was there to greet us and share in Kaylah’s excitement of receiving her professional art supplies gift.
The special home deliveries allow us a glimpse into the lives of the youth that we serve through Alyssa’s foundation. As we interacted with this loving family, we could feel Alyssa’s spirit in our presence. We are grateful to share Alyssa’s creative passion for art and music to other young people who are undergoing their treatment for life-threatening illnesses and provide them with hope and a constructive outlet.
