The Odyssey Charter School community is rallying around one of its own—Kayla Young, a devoted mother of two, an educational assistant at Odyssey Preparatory Academy, and a woman who has shown remarkable strength through years of hardship.

Kayla has battled chronic kidney disease since 2016. After the heartbreaking loss of her husband, a military veteran, in 2022, her health declined rapidly. In December 2023, she was diagnosed with kidney failure and began nightly dialysis treatments lasting more than eight hours. Despite the exhaustion and uncertainty, Kayla has continued to fight—determined to be present for her children and to build a future with them.

She was placed on multiple transplant lists, but with an O positive blood type, she was told the wait could take years. In September 2025, she finally received the call she had been praying for—only to have the transplant canceled hours before surgery due to a high risk of rejection. It was a devastating setback after years of hope.

Everything changed when Kayla reached out to Odyssey’s founder, Constance Ortiz, to share her story. The community responded immediately, and one act of compassion set a miracle in motion. A fellow Odyssey employee, someone Kayla had never met, stepped forward to be tested—and was a perfect match.

Now, as Kayla prepares for her long awaited transplant and the months of recovery that follow, she and her children need our support more than ever.

Funds raised will help provide:

• Temporary housing during her recovery

• Meals and essential living expenses

• Medical and transplant related costs not covered by insurance

• Stability for her children during this life changing transition

Kayla has carried so much on her own for so long. This is our chance to lift some of that weight from her shoulders and surround her family with the support they deserve.

Your generosity—whether through a donation, a share, or a message of encouragement—will make a direct and meaningful impact on Kayla’s healing journey.