Bullied 6th Grader's last written message to mom was "live by faith, not by sight."
By 12 years old, "joyful and talented" Kelaia was clearly extraordinary!
At just 8 years old, Kelaia could play the piano by ear and memory, performing a recital without looking at her sheet music. She introduced herself to the music of Queen and learned to play "Bohemian Rhapsody." She learned Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" so she could surprise her dad and play it in the background of his favorite Anime. When she loved something, she pursued it. In 3rd Grade, Kelaia was a big fan of slime, so she learned how to make it and sold it to classmates.
Kelaia's love of creating art led her to create her own jewelry business called Kreatively K: Designs from the Heart.
A natural "theater kid," Kelaia was in the Drama Club and loved to dance, sing and act, even getting a callback after an audition for Nickelodeon. At 11 years old, she begged for her own Youtube channel. A passionate SWIFTY, Kelaia had created a 2023 vision board in her room to go to the ERAS Tour. She also adored Harry Styles.
Kelaia joined the Girl Scouts as a Daisy, and is now a Cadette. She loved to cook, too. Her interest in building things led her to enroll in a STEM school for 6th Grade where she could learn more about robotics. Kelaia's mom says her daughter was always laughing and happy - and standing up for any students she saw being bullied.
But, the beloved "baby of the family" (with 2 older sisters in their 20's) was also being bullied.
Kelaia's parents continually advocated for their daughter at school, reporting the bullying, and they worked to boost her confidence, even entering Kelaia in a pageant - which she won!
The bullying in 6th Grade was unrelenting. Students targeted Kelaia for her race and appearance, using demeaning words and name-calling like "roach" meant to hurt. In one instance, a song derogatory to Black people was played on Youtube by students in class. In the lawsuit filed by the parents, it states the teacher "allowed the song to be played without any comment on its offensiveness, nor any reprimand to or discussion with the student who played it." Kelaia confided in a peer from her Girl Scout troop that bullies were "making her life hell."
Kelaia's dreams included being an actress! 💕
We break here, giving the chance for educators of young students to decide how and if to tell Kelaia's story going forward...
TRIGGER WARNING: CHILD SUICIDE
Note from Jennifer, the Executive Director:
This is not, by far, the first time we have featured elementary or middle school children for Friend Mail that have survived suicide attempts. However, Kelaia is the first of our Recipients to suffer injuries so severe that, in telling her story, the reality is unescapable. Kelaia's story brings home the dire consequences bullying can have on a child's mental health. On average, 6 kids a day (ages 10 and up) in the U.S. are dying by suicide related to bullying, and for every one of those, there are at least 100 attempts. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for ages 10 to 24.
The BAFP does not provide therapy, crisis intervention, mental health advice or mediation, and we are not qualified to do so. I know suicide can be a very difficult topic for parents and not often the territory of educators to introduce. If this is the case, and you would like to engage your young ones in sending peer support, joy, compassion to brighten Kelaia's day, stop the story here. Tell them about her hobbies and passions. Send love. Send friendship. Send wishes for healing her spirit and body after heartbreaking bullying.
Teach kids that Kindness Matters. Kelaia's mom would especially like kids to learn that WORDS DO HURT when they are said to embarrass and make someone feel bad about themselves. All kids can understand they have the power to change a life by reaching out and being a friend. Every letter will be read and shown to Kelaia, and many displayed where she can view them.
Full story information can be read in a People magazine feature and the family's GoFundMe, links to both at the end of this blog.
There are youth suicide hotlines shared at the end of this blog.
Kelaia started thinking she couldn’t take the bullying anymore, and she made a hopeless decision to hurt herself. This caused serious damage to her brain, and she had to spend 101 days in the hospital. Now Kelaia is 14, and she lives at home where her family takes care of her.
Because of the brain injury, Kelaia can’t talk or move very much on her own, but she can still see and hear. Her mom promises that she will read aloud to Kelaia every letter and drawing we send, and some will be displayed for Kelaia to see. Her mom says Kelaia's face and mood really brighten when letters are read to her.
She also responds to music by her favorite pianist, Yiruma. To stimulate Kelaia's joy, her family honored her 2023 vision board by creating a Taylor Swift ERAS Tour of their own in her bedroom. Her mom says Kelaia "LIT UP" and, in a big milestone, turned her head towards the screen.
When she was younger, Kelaia loved to collect SQUISHMELLOWS and now her family uses them for comfort positioning. They immerse her in sensory stimulation that included taking her to see the movie,"WICKED."
Kelaia’s family is just learning how to thrive again, together.
For Kelaia's mom, Tyesha Turner, their survival is a "faith-based journey." On Tyesha's first day back to her workplace where she led a finance team, she discovered a message left by Kelaia on her office whiteboard. Kelaia had recently shadowed her mom at work just 2 weeks before the day she attempted suicide. Kelaia had drawn hands with a beautiful butterfly in the middle and the words, "Live by faith, not by sight." This refers to a Bible verse interpreted to mean "fix your eyes on what is eternal." Kelaia's last written message to her mom is part of what has inspired her to start KELAIA'S KAUSE, a non-profit organization to educate on mental health resources for kids.
KELAIA'S STORY YOUTUBE
By On-Air Teen Vlogger, Brielle Diaz Withers, with Guest Vlogger, Natalia Artigas!
Ambassadors, we are sure your Friend Mail support can strengthen and brighten Kelaia - and the entire family. Together, we can help them by sending our support and caring. Let’s show Kelaia that SHE MATTERS and is FRIEND STRONG!
💌❤️
EVERY LETTER IS A GIFT.
THE MORE SUPPORT, THE GREATER THE IMPACT.
KELAIA'S "FRIEND MAIL" DUE FEBRUARY 21ST!
Mail "PHYSICAL" letters to:
Be A Friend Project
P.O. Box 30
Beacon, NY 12508
Email letters, videos, scans & Google Drive links, send to:
-OR-
PDF Downloadable Hand-Out
Suicide / Mental Health Hotlines
Call, Chat, Text 988.
This new three-digit number is an easy-to-remember way for people in the U.S. to connect to mental health services, including The Trevor Project’s LGBTQ+ mental health services.
Here are some ways for youths to get in touch directly with The Trevor Project, 24/7:
Text START to 678-678. You’ll be connected to a trained counselor and be able to message them privately.
If you want to speak to a counselor directly and confidentially over the phone, you can call 866-488-7386.
Or, if you want to chat online, visit TrevorChat.org