Persistent flu-like symptoms she just couldn’t seem to shake sent 18-year-old Dejah Day to the hospital in early November ‘18 where she learned she may have leukemia or some kind of cancer. As others facing catastrophic illness know all too well, with this crushing news has come pressing economic hardships that she and her family are beginning to deal with.

In a matter of the past two years Dejah’s mom, our friend Rovenia Gerald, has succeeded in turning her life around – a single mom of 4 since she was a teen (2 just finished college), emerging from a history of abusive relationships, no job, a period of homelessness to finding housing for her, Dejah and youngest child Kinnady, finalizing a divorce, and enrolling in a free 10-week intensive job readiness mentoring program offered by Dress for Success Palm Beaches. In Week 8 of the sessions, Rovenia had a mock interview with a business pro that resulted in her being hired by a well-respected pawn shop chain, Queen of Pawns. Finally, she could provide her family with a steady income, and Dejah and her sister had a role model mom to be more proud of than ever before.

Dejah finished high school, and before the bout of high fevers, unending exhaustion and racing heart and pulse set in, she was accepted to and planning to attend Florida Atlantic University. Meanwhile, Rovenia was excelling so spectacularly at her job, she was asked to relocate from West Palm Beach to Tampa to help Queen of Pawns open its first ever operation on the West Coast of Florida. This move, in less than a year, put her on track for advancement and contributed further to the household’s financial security. She made the sacrifice of leaving Dejah and Kinnady to take the position in Tampa, knowing that once she got settled she would move Kinnady to Tampa as Dejah began college life.

Work life for Rovenia was blossoming; she even took the initiative to register for online classes with the Gemological Institute of America to become an accredited gemologist – a plus that demonstrated her passion for, as well as commitment to, herjob. Everything in her and her kids’ lives was on such a positive track … and now, they’re on pins and needles awaiting a firm diagnosis; uncertain of what’s next… but quite certain the expenses to address this health crisis are more than they can afford - even with insurance. Good news: Tampa is home to one of the leading cancer institutes in the country – Moffitt Cancer Center.  So Rovenia and the girls are headed to Tampa where Dejah is scheduled for an early December appointment. Her job at Queen of Pawns awaits her and she’ll juggle that with getting Kinnady settled into a middle school while tending to Dejah’s medical needs.

This family has had its share of challenges and will meet the ones ahead as they have the ones in the past. Please find it in your hearts to help with even the smallest donation so that the burdens they face are eased even just a little. The money is needed immediately since the savings Rovenia was able to sock away have already been depleted. It will be used for medical expenses, the move to Tampa, and will help in obtaining safe and adequate housing for the family.

We will keep this updated as more information becomes available.

On their behalf - THANK YOU!