Kaylee Kramer - Winter 2010

Hi, my name is Kaylee Kramer. I am 14 years old and I am in the 8th grade. I live in Somonauk, IL, with my parents, my brother and my sister.

First, a little about my family. My dad, Dan, works as a welder. I like to spend a lot of time with him. My mom, Dena, runs a daycare at home, and I help her out whenever she needs it. I like to go shopping and go for walks with my dog Duke and with my mom.

My sister, Amber, and I love to go shopping, get our nails done and dance in the car like rock stars. She is 17 years old and really awesome. My brother Brandon is 15, and he plays baseball, videogames and eats — a lot! We sometimes have a fun time drawing together.

Now, let me tell you a little about me. I like to draw, watch TV and laugh with my friends. I also play soccer for the Somonauk Bobcats. My favorite positions are goalie and forward.

Now, a little about my animals. My dog Duke is the newest member of the family. He is a yellow lab and is almost a year old. He's veryplayful and loves to take up the whole bed at night. I also have two ferrets: Skylar, who is three, and Allie, who is one. They are wild and full of energy, and they love to play in the cage that my dad and I built. We also have two cats, Carmel and Callie, who are playful at times.

When I grow up I want to become an animal rescue cop, because I love animals. Animal cops rescue all sorts of animals, and I just think that would be a really fun job.

I was born with Craniosynostosis with a cleft eye, and I have had five surgeries to correct this. Even normal things like going to the grocery store are sometimes difficult. People will ask me if my brother has punched me in the face, and I simply look at them and reply, “I was born this way.” I also get a lot of stares, and I just ignore them, but sometimes I stare back or go up to them and ask them what they're looking at.

It has been difficult being different all my life. It is the hardest thing anyone could go through, and I just want to be like everybody else. But, the coolest thing is I may be the only one in the United States who has Craniosynostosis with a cleft eye.

If you would like to share your story with CCA, please send an email to Annie Reeves at areeves@ccakids.com. If your story is chosen, with your permission, we will edit and publish it in the CCA newsletter, on the Web site or use it for public awareness programs. Not all stories will be selected.

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