The unimaginable happened on Monday, November 17th, my Godson Karmelo was struck by a Cadillac Escalade in a hit-and-run at the street crossing shortly after getting off of his school bus. The driver did not stop or return to help. Karmelo was left unconscious and rushed to the Children's Hospital of the Kings Daughters, where he was placed on life support in the Pediatric ICU. His injuries are severe—he is in a lot of pain having suffered a fractured skull, neck injuries, and swelling in his lungs and intestines. It is truly a miracle that he is alive, and we are so grateful for the care he is receiving and the prayers from so many people.

Before this tragedy, Karmelo was a vibrant, active 8-year-old who excelled in football and basketball. He is an MVP youth league football player, full of confidence and drive, and his favorite superhero is Spiderman. Now, as he fights to recover, we are left not knowing what the future holds for his physical and mental well-being, or his ability to safely play sports again. The impact on his dreams of one day playing in the NFL are uncertain, and we are concerned about how this trauma will affect him as one who has found so much meaning and self-esteem through sports.

Karmelo’s mom, Destany is a dedicated single parent who loves her four children deeply and has always been the biggest supporter of Karmelo’s dreams, making sure he gets to every practice and game, and providing everything he needs to enjoy the activities he loves. Your support would help immensely with expenses and allow the focus to remain on Karmelo’s recovery. Any donation, no matter the size, would mean the world to them as they navigate this incredibly hard time.