Kayla has always been the kind of person who puts others first. Over the years, she has opened her local home to friends, relatives and others with nowhere else to go — cooking meals, driving them to doctor appointments, even providing end-of-life care for her grandfather when no one else could. Today, she continues to care daily for her aunt in her home.
She does all of this quietly and selflessly. But generosity often comes with sacrifice. Kayla’s finances have been stretched thin, her house damaged by the wear and tear of constant caregiving, and her own needs pushed aside. Even so, she never stopped giving, asking nothing in return.
So when an unexpected $1,000 check arrived in the mail, Kayla nearly threw it away — convinced it was a scam. But it wasn’t.
The gift came from West Bloomfield City Lifestyle’s annual Giving Campaign, where our readers nominate local people in need and our corporate team selects recipients for cash awards.
Kayla soon discovered the nomination came from Sherry Eckman of Midwest Diagnostic Imaging (mdimichigan.com). Sherry knew Kayla’s heart and saw the toll her selflessness had taken.
“She has a heart of gold,” Sherry says. “She’s always taking in people who don’t have anywhere else to go — feeding them, caring for them, giving them a safe place. She thinks of others before herself, even when it costs her.”
When Kayla realized the gift was real, she used it for something simple, yet meaningful — replacing her front door, broken during her years of helping others. “It was great to actually see something come of it,” Sherry says. “I never expected the nomination would turn into anything, but it really made a difference.”
This season, we invite you to take part. Nominate someone you know — a friend, neighbor or colleague — whose quiet kindness deserves recognition (see how on page TK). You never know the impact your nomination might have.