Help Kayla Get Her Smile Back After a Traumatic Dog Attack‼

This morning, my 28-year-old sister, Kayla, was attacked by a dog while camping in a remote part of Michigan near Lake Huron. She was there with her boyfriend, his family, and friends when it happened. The attack was so severe that the dog bit off half of her bottom lip.

Kayla was rushed to the nearest doctor, but because of where they were, all they could do was disinfect the wound. Nothing could be done to restore what she had lost. The only real path to recovery is reconstructive cosmetic surgery—a long, expensive road that isn’t covered by insurance.

She doesn’t have insurance. As a full-time server for the last 10 years, she doesn’t receive benefits through her job and is too old to be on our parents' plan. She’s already been paying off medical debt from major health issues just a couple of years ago.

This breaks my heart for so many reasons.

My sister is the strongest woman I know. She’s independent to a fault—never asks for help, never takes handouts, and takes pride in knowing that everything she has, she’s earned on her own. She’s also the funniest person you’ll ever meet. She’s the kind of person who’s always smiling and laughing—even when life throws her the worst.

But now, she’s lost her smile. And all I want to do is help her get it back.

What a lot of people don’t know is that she has struggled with her self-esteem for most of her life. Over the last 10 years, she’s lost almost 100 pounds and was just beginning to truly love herself—finally building confidence in her appearance, in her worth, in her future. This attack took that from her in a single moment.

When we got the call from her after the attack, we immediately drove two hours to be with her. She tried so hard to be strong when we arrived, but I could see how scared she was. I saw the heartbreak in her eyes as she tried to hold on to a thread of normalcy, knowing that her life was about to change.

Here’s what she needs now:

Reconstructive surgery for her lip

Post-operative care and follow-up visits

Potential mental health support for the trauma

Help covering time away from work while she heals

This is not just about physical healing. This is about helping her feel like herself again. About protecting the vibrant, hilarious, resilient woman who has given so much of herself to others without ever asking for anything back.

We know times are hard, but if you can donate—even just a little—or share this with others, you can help us give her a second chance at the confidence and peace she was just starting to find.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading, sharing, and caring. Every bit helps.

— Amaya Lewis & Family ❤️