Nationwide — Kamiyah Floyd, a 6-year-old African American girl from Coffee County, Georgia, is preparing for open-heart surgery at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta after doctors discovered a serious heart condition. Her grandmother, Geneva Tillman, is asking the community for prayers and support as Kamiyah gets ready for the procedure.
Kamiyah was born with the condition, but doctors in Macon initially believed it was only a heart murmur that she would eventually outgrow. As she got older, the problem continued and began affecting her ability to play, sleep, eat and gain weight.
Tillman said she first became concerned after noticing that Kamiyah would suddenly stop playing and fall asleep while spending time with other children.
“When she play out with like four or five kids, I look in the crowd, and she missing,” Tillman told WALB. “I come in, she done passed, done went to sleep.”
After getting more medical opinions, Tillman brought Kamiyah to a children’s doctor in Waycross for additional testing. Doctors performed X-rays and other exams and discovered that the upper valves of Kamiyah’s heart had not closed properly, making surgery necessary.
Tillman and Kamiyah traveled to Atlanta ahead of the July 15 procedure. The family was scheduled to attend a pre-surgery orientation at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta before the operation.
“No matter what we face, we’re going to walk this road together,” Tillman said. “You’re not going through nothing that I’m not going to go through with you.”
Even with surgery ahead, Kamiyah is already looking forward to life after recovery. The first grader said she wants to visit a water park and Chuck E. Cheese once she leaves the hospital.
Tillman, who stepped in to care for Kamiyah while helping her daughter manage several children, said people in the community have offered their support. She is now asking for continued prayers, donations and stuffed animals to help Kamiyah through her recovery.
“At this point, I’m really asking for prayers,” Tillman said. “I’m asking every prayer warrior that I got to pray for me and my baby with this undergoing surgery.”