HUDSONVILLE, Mich. — Cami Mattox, 11, plays 'Up On the Housetop' on the family's piano in their living room. The stockings are hung and the tree is lit up behind her. They decorated early for Christmas.
She learned how to play piano during her last stint at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. She learned how to hope there all the same.
“It was very quickly after birth, when her mom and dad and myself, we all saw that she was having health issues," said Michelle Milke, her grandmother.
Cami was diagnosed with Hirschsprung's Disease. She's been in and out of the hospital all of her 11 years.
“She will always need medical care," said Michelle. “When Cami was sick last year, she beaded on her time downtime.”
Looking for a way to fill time at the hospital, Michelle introduced Cami to friendship bracelet making. She took it and ran.
At a time like this, it would make sense for Cami to turn inward, to worry about her own future. But Cami, instead, worries about all of ours.
“Grandma actually went to Africa," said Cami. “and she told me about it, and then I felt really bad, and so I started selling bracelets and gave all the money to her.”
"She raised $13.50 and she brought it to me and said 'I want this to go to Africa,' and I was so proud of her. I mean, you know, she could have used it for anything," said Michelle. “I didn't want to squash her, so I was like, 'great, Papa and I will buy the beads.'”
A decision she might be regretting at this point.
“I'm trying to raise $10,000 which is all by making and selling 2,000 bracelets total," Cami smiled.
“I had people say to me, 'Oh, it'll take her two or three years.' And all of a sudden, we are just into it, and we're at $5,000," said Michelle.
Cami proves sometimes the smallest hands can reach the furthest.
“At any age, you can change the world," said Michelle, “And I would love for Cami to represent that.”
The future belongs to those who hope. Lucky for us, ours is in the hands of this 11-year-old.
“A lot of kids just need help,” said Cami, smiling. “and I'm gonna be there for them.”
► The funds Cami raises with her bracelets will go to her grandmother’s nonprofit, Danny's Boys and Shirley's Girls, raising money to help a community in Tanzania.
If you’d like to help Cami reach her goal of $10,000, you can donate here or purchase a bracelet at The Little Dipper Ice Cream Shoppe in Hudsonville or the South Blendon Community Church Sale on Saturday, December 7.