Kayla’s Story – A Mother’s Strength Through the Storm

My name is Christina. Recently, my husband and I were in Jamaica during Hurricane Melissa. While we were there, many members of the resort staff touched our hearts—but one person, in particular, left a lasting impact on me. Her name is Kayla, and during that storm, she lost nearly everything.

Two days before the hurricane hit, we met Kayla while she was working in the resort’s sports bar. She greeted everyone with the brightest smile and an infectious, bubbly energy. As we spoke, she shared that her best friend had passed away that very day. Her friend was only 28 years old and had struggled with health issues since a heart attack a few years prior. Yet, despite her own grief, Kayla showed up to work—because she had to—and still radiated kindness and warmth.

Throughout the days leading up to the storm, and even after, Kayla checked in on us constantly. Not as a server, but as a caring human being. We soon learned that she is a single mother raising her 4-year-old son on her own. Later, through her social media, I came across a post that brought me to tears—a photo of her and her son with the caption: "Abortion is legal, but I knew he needed a mommy." That single sentence says EVERYTHING about who Kayla is.

When Hurricane Melissa hit, Kayla’s home was destroyed. The roof blew off, leaving behind severe damage to the small house she had built herself. I use the word home loosely because, if you’ve ever been to Jamaica, you understand that many live with so little. Yet even after losing so much, Kayla’s only concern was that her son had no shoes to wear to school—not how she would rebuild her home or replace their belongings.

To make matters even more difficult, Kayla earns the equivalent of $50 a week working six days at the resort. She pays $10.00 a week for transportation to and from work. That means she’s left with around $40 a week to feed and care for herself and her son, pay bills, and now try to rebuild her life. Despite all of this, she continues to show up with a smile, doing her best to provide for her little boy.

Her strength and selflessness deeply moved me. I want to help her rebuild—not just her home, but her hope. My goal is to raise funds to provide what she and her son need: a roof over their heads, clothes, shoes, and a sense of stability again.

You can donate to large organizations like the Red Cross, but so often, it’s unclear how much of that truly reaches the people in need I want every dollar raised to go directly to Kayla and her son—and no one else.

If you’re able to give, please know that your kindness will make a real, immediate difference in their lives. Even the smallest donation can change their world.

With heartfelt thanks,

Christina & Tony M.