What began as cruel prank is turning into a shower of blessings for a Plano ISD middle school student who was bullied.
“We have been blessed with so many people reaching out,” said her mother, Syreeta Smith. “We never imagined this.”
Smith’s 11-year-old daughter, A’Myah Moon, is battling a rare lymph node disease called Castleman disease. The sixth-grader was wearing a wig to her classes at Bowman Middle School to hide harsh impact of chemotherapy treatments.
But she said she was left feeling ashamed and devastated after a classmate ripped off her wig during a gym class last month. The classmate reportedly said she wanted to put A’Myah’s wig in a ponytail. When A’Myah refused and tried to run away, the girl yanked the wig and threw it on the floor.
Although Castleman disease is not officially a form of cancer, it causes an overgrowth of cells in the lymph system that is similar to lymphoma, according to the American Cancer Society. The disease is also treated similarly, with chemotherapy or radiation.
It can cause tumors, and A’Myah has a mass in her chest. The mass could be removed surgically, but that would also require the removal of a lung because of its location. Chemotherapy and other treatments have so far been ineffective in shrinking the mass, Smith said.
A’Myah’s story has touched people across the world who sent special recognition, cards and kind words.
She visited with Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner, a Euless Trinity graduate, before Sunday’s Mavericks game at American Airlines Center. Last week, an Allen photographer held a photo shoot with her and her family, WFAA-TV (Channel 8) reported.
“It’s making her feel great, and honestly, she’s been in a better mood the last couple of weeks,” Smith said. “All of these strangers have made a world of difference.”
After Bowman Middle School students heard what A’Myah has endured, Smith said, they have offered encouraging words and to walk her to class.
“She has more friends,” she added.
That has empowered A’Myah to offer her own kind words for people who are facing bullies, cancer and other life-changing circumstances.
“I want them to know they’re not the only ones out there who are dealing with things,” A’Myah said. “I hope they look up to their parents, to me, and know they are not alone. They’re brave, strong and beautiful.”
The bullies are only “making you stronger and themselves weaker,” she added.
In time, A’Myah said, she might be willing to be on friendly terms again with the bully. Smith said that’s a message of forgiveness and kindness that the world needs to hear.
“This is so much bigger than her,” she said.
This week, she’s going to be in a photo shoot with a prominent photographer, Jermaine Horton, who heard about A’Myah’s story on social media and reached out to help.
Through his nonprofit project “The Art of Confidence,” Horton has photographed young people who have been ridiculed or punished because of their hair to help them rebuild their confidence, he said.
“I never meant for this to be a project,” said Horton, who owns a wedding and portrait photography business in suburban Chicago.
But he said he believes God had other plans.
“I’ve had so much success with everything I’ve done as a photographer and this was like, ‘OK, I’ve given you everything you asked for,’ and now it’s time to give back.” Horton said. “And it’s a pleasure doing it. I love to hear back from parents that their children’s confidence is through the roof. It’s the best part.”
During the shoot next week, A’Myah may take off her wig herself, to show “it will not overcome her,” Smith said.
She also said she hopes it might lead to connections that will allow her daughter to receive specialized treatment.
CORRECTION, 1:12 p.m., March 11, 2020: An earlier version of this story said the photo shoot was next week, but it is this week.
