DaMaya Smith is a beautiful 12 year old girl from Baton Rouge, LA. She is battling a cancer called Rhabdomyosarcoma. Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a type of sarcoma made up of cells that normally develop into skeletal (voluntary) muscles. It all started in August of 2016 when Maya woke up with a really bad ear ache. Initially her mom, Sywanda thought she had a normal ear infection but when she took DaMaya to the doctor, they sent her to a local hospital in Baton Rouge! A biopsy was done and she was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma. Da’Maya was immediately sent to a hospital in Memphis! In September of 2016 DaMaya began her stay in the hospital in Memphis where she received treatments. After 9 months they received wonderful news! DaMaya was in remission and could return home to Baton Rouge. She was in remission for 1 year and 4 months. Fast forward to February 2019, DaMaya went for a follow up visit and was informed that the cancer had returned.  After relapse treatments were administered another scan was performed  and it showed new growth while on the new protocol.  Yet again she was rushed to Memphis. The doctors informed her that when this type of cancer returned it was aggressive and can be very hard to treat and that surgery was not an option because of the location of the tumor. The tumor is located near the nasal cavity and pharyngeal space.

Maya has undergone a new chemotherapy and radiation over the past 2 months. The doctors informed Sywanda that if this treatment regiment does not shrink the tumor, there is nothing else they can do to cure this beautiful child. Another scan was performed August 29th which showed no shrinkage in the tumor and possible new activity. Yet the news was not what they wanted to hear, Sywanda and DaMaya are holding firm to their faith. DaMaya was prescribed 3 more weeks of treatment. After the 3 weeks are up the doctors will determine if they will continue treatments or if there is new growth.  If there is new growth they will send DaMaya home and keep her comfortable. Although, her prognosis is not good based on the doctors expertise, DaMaya and Sywanda are standing on the word of God and believing for a miracle!!! Their smiles are contagious and their positive spirit is heartwarming!!!!  We know that God is a healer and are hopeful that God’s supernatural healing will manifest in DaMaya!!!!

This gofundme account was created to aide Sywanda and DaMaya with expenses during this season of their lives.  She is a single mother with two daughters, DaMaya and Destiny.  Destiny is a freshman in college.  Although, all of DaMaya’s medical expenses and living expenses, here in Memphis, are paid while receiving treatments,  they still have expenses at home like mortgage, car, utilities, etc. Because Sywanda is employed as a teacher in Baton Rouge, she has no income until she can return to work.   We ask for your prayers first and foremost and then your donations to help relieve the financial strain of this family.