NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) – Like many teenagers preparing for the start of another school year, Karena Bunch, 16, can’t wait to discover her latest fashion. But in this case, her new clothes and accessories mean a lot more to her than the average teenager.
Bunch explained “fashion is a big part of who I am. It’s a big part of expressing who I am. So when I wear those clothes, I can feel like myself.”
And Karena’s mother, Charity, will tell you it’s been a long time coming.
“I would never want any parent to have to deal with this. But if your number is called, you will see what your family and your children are made of.”
The Bunch family knows first hand. In 2020, Karena was diagnosed with a rare case of anemia. It’s something only one in a million people ever get.
It involves 100% failure of the bone marrow, with no ability to make new blood cells. It meant a loss of a normal existence. It also meant hair loss.
“I was very confused about who I was and mentally I was very broken,” said Karena. “Like I said, I felt like I lost everything.”
After having to take 40 pills a day, Karena needed a transplant. Who better for a donor than the person she sits with every night at the dinner table. Her little brother Kai was ready, willing and able.
“What she looked like a year ago and how she looks today … it’s night and day,” Charity said.
To put that in perspective, when Karena shows up for the first day of class at Einstein School in Plano on August 16, it will mark her first real experience of being in person at the high school, and she’s in the 11th grade. . Imagine that…..as she goes through her first day outfit choices.
“I’m much more confident in myself, so I feel like it will be much easier to make new friends. Because, I’m not too afraid to talk to people anymore. I’m nervous and excited.”
A calming influence for Karena during this time has been the Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas. Her wish was a shopping spree, and she got it — $2,500 to spend however she wanted at the Galleria mall in Dallas.
Sara Roelke, Make-A-Wish North Texas Media Relations Manager, explained “there is research that shows that children who have a wish granted renew their hope for the future. They are able to continue living life to the fullest. .”
Maggiano’s Little Italy is happy to help serve this mission as well. The restaurant hosted Karena and the family for a special dinner. The company has also pledged a portion of the proceeds from their meals to the Make-A-Wish Foundation… now through the end of August. Maggiano CEO Steve Provost says “we have the most generous guests around. I think over 20 years, we’ve raised over $10 million for Make-A-Wish Texas North and other chapters.”
And as significant as a new school year always is, there’s no way to understand how important it is to Karena. She sacrificed a lot to get to this point. And she knows more about herself at 16 than some people know about themselves in a lifetime.
She said her battle made her realize “how intelligent I was. How strong I was. How many people loved me. Who I wanted to be. I just want to be happy. That’s what I would say about who I am. I just want you to be happy.”
