In 2008, just before Thanksgiving, six-year-old Kaela had surgery on her right leg due to her Cerebral Palsy. This was a scary surgery for a young child, and for her parents. But someone at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children gave Kaela a stuffed animal dressed as a doctor to hold on to during surgery and her treatments. The stuffed animal stayed with her the entire time of her treatment and helped her to be brave. The surgery went well, her leg was put in a cast, and the doctors gave her a year recovery time for her leg to be completely healed.

A few weekends later, Kaela was feeling well enough to go back to church with her family. When they walked in on Sunday morning, they saw Fellowship Church had just started its yearly “Love Your Neighbor” Campaign that involved adults and children alike. In the FCKids ministry, Kaela and the rest of the children learned the Elevate leadership lesson, “I Will Help Others!” As a part of the small group lesson, she and her friends made giant get well cards for children in a local children’s hospital. Kaela, with the cast around her leg reminding her of her own recent hospital visit, knew just how important those cards could be to other children.

Kaela felt like she needed to do something more with what she learned. As she told her mom about the cards they made at church, Kaela said, “I want to help others too.” The family sat down and talked about how they could help others in a practical way. Afterward, Kaela told her mom she wanted to collect stuffed bunnies and bears to help the other patients at Scottish Rite. Kaela specifically said she wanted to donate the stuffed animals for Easter, “Since most people already give at Christmas.” With her parent’s support, they made flyers, and for the next few months, Kaela passed them out to relatives, friends and people at church. Kaela told her mom she would be so excited if they collected even 50 bunnies.

Not surprisingly, Kaela collected more than that. Other people were inspired by this six-year-old girl’s example of loving and helping others. The volunteers from church who knew Kaela and her family directly, donated two trash bags full of stuffed animals.

Kaela and her mom both smile when they share how many bears, bunnies and other assorted stuffed animals they collected that first year. “God blessed her collection abundantly,” Kaela’s mom said. With extra bears and bunnies filling up their car, Kaela’s family delivered about 250 stuffed animals to the children at Scottish Rite. When asked if she was surprised, Kaela nodded her head. She wanted to help others, and felt overwhelmed by the response.

Her mother sees the importance of having a church that teaches her children how to apply the Bible to their daily lives. “I have seen the way my children talk to others about Jesus and how they pray and praise God every day. I’ve seen Kaela grow from a quiet, shy girl who would walk with her head down so not to catch attention of someone, to a young lady who walks with her head held high and is not afraid to invite someone to church,” Kaela’s mom said.

Kaela, now an active nine year old, continues to help others. Each year she and her family continue to collect bunnies and bears for Kaela Kares and donate them at Easter to help children in the Scottish Rite Hospital. Kaela’s leg is healed completely with no scars. At her follow up appointment, the doctor couldn’t even see where she had done the surgery. Kaela’s orthopedic doctor even said Kaela was in the top 5 of success stories. Kaela and her mom attribute it all to God. “Today, people would not even know Kaela has any type of disability or brain injury and that is all the work of God!” Kaela’s mom says in praise.

Kaela’s story is an amazing example of a child responding to the leadership principles found in God’s Word, and putting them into action. Even though she faced difficulties at a young age, she used what she learned about God to make a difference in the lives of others. Kaela is a leader.

Fellowship Church creates the Elevate curriculum and uses it during all of its FCKids Ministry programming.