On a frigid, windy Sunday afternoon Jan. 14, more than 50 fellow students, friends and teachers gathered around her class tree outside of Alice Costello School and prayed for Kayla Galvez’s quick recovery.
“She is so kind. She loves everything about pop culture. She is in critical, but stable condition,” said Shakema Geer,” who was her English Language Arts teacher in seventh grade.
During Christmas break Galvez was walking home from the Wawa and was hit by a car while crossing Route 130, said Geer while handing out prayer cards before the service started.
“Kayla is such a nice girl. She has been friends with my daughter since first grade. We wanted to come together and say some prayers for her and her family,” organizer Jen Groatman said.
Galvez, 14, of Brooklawn graduated from Alice Costello in 2023 and is a freshman at Gloucester City High School.
“Kayla and her family need our support as a community more than ever right now,” GHS Principal Sean Gorman said.
The accident occurred on Friday, Dec. 29 about 1:10 p.m., said the Brooklawn Police, adding that the driver had the right of way and stayed at the scene.
Brooklawn Councilman Colin MacAdams, a former neighbor, has started a GoFundMe campaign.
“I am raising money for the Galvez family of Brooklawn. Kayla Galvez was critically injured after being struck by a vehicle. As we can imagine, this tragedy has created many unexpected hardships and challenges for the family,” MacAdams wrote on the GoFundMe website.
“Kayla continues to fight with her condition listed as stable but critical. She and her family face a long and difficult road to recovery,” he stated.
She has two older siblings and a younger brother who attends Alice Costello School in Brooklawn.
“Kayla is a phenomenal person from a wonderful family. Right now, Brooklawn and Gloucester, this family needs our help. The monetary donations raised will go to rising medical expenses as Kayla fights to recover, increasing unforeseen parking and travel fees, as well as food for the family as they try to navigate this circumstance,” MacAdams stated.
The family received a lot of moral support from the caring people who gathered around the Class of 2023 tree on Sunday to say the following prayer:
“Lord, as sickness has invaded Kayla’s world, I stand by watching and feeling helpless. But Lord, I am reminded that I am not helpless but powerful in prayer. I lift to you this precious child Kayla, and I ask for your healing power to permeate every part of Kayla’s body. Lord I ask that Kayla’s body be quickly transformed into radiant health.”
