A line has formed outside of the PediDome, a multi-purpose room on the pediatric oncology floor at MD Anderson Children\u2019s Cancer Hospital. Children of all ages\u2014some walking with IV drips and some in wheelchairs\u2014are waiting with their families to make their very own piece of Kendra Scott jewelry.<\/p>\n
For Kayla Jefferson, 20, the Kendra Scott Color Bar has become a respite through her seven months in the hospital to treat osteosarcoma, the most common form of bone cancer in children and young adults. After undergoing a massive surgery in her right leg to remove her knee joint, Jefferson must complete 30 weeks of chemotherapy.<\/p>\n
\u201cLosing your hair is pretty hard,\u201d Jefferson said. \u201cI had really long hair and I just buzzed it all off because it kept falling out in clumps.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jefferson is wearing a large knee brace and chatting with her mother and new friend, Anne, about the jewelry she will make.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like that they use stones,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s just nice to have a little bit of oomph when you feel like you\u2019re losing your hair and you don\u2019t feel the prettiest and then all of a sudden you get someone who brings you jewelry and tells you that you\u2019re beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kendra Scott jewelry designs are known for their geometric shapes and bright colors. Once a month, the designer\u2019s team brings an in-store shopping experience straight to the patients at MD Anderson, at no cost to them or the hospital. The Color Bar, part of the Kendra Cares Program, is one of the hospital\u2019s best-attended events.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a fun experience for anyone because you are designing and creating something,\u201d said Mackenzie Cash, community relations and events manager for Kendra Scott. \u201cOnce they pick their silhouette\u2014they can choose from two different types of earrings, a necklace, and two different types of bracelets\u2014they decide if they want silver or gold and then from there, they pick the color option for the stone. We have 12 different stone options.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jefferson decides to make a new bracelet for herself.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach piece of jewelry I make symbolizes my journey and what I have gone through,\u201d she said. \u201cThis bracelet I got … the color of the slate gray stone\u2014it\u2019s kind of dark, but it also has this light side at the same time. It reminds me that even though there will be stormy times, I know that I can make it through.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lifting patients\u2019 spirits has been a mission for Kendra Scott since her stepfather was treated for brain cancer at MD Anderson.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a really pivotal point in her career. She was young when that happened and she has remained involved with MD Anderson,\u201d Cash said. \u201cKendra always says, \u2018We always have something to give.\u2019 We did the first mobile Color Bar here at MD Anderson three years ago and now in 2018 we are moving into 30 children\u2019s hospitals.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to donating the jewelry and staff time for the Color Bar, Kendra Scott donates proceeds from the sale of MD Anderson hand and heart\u00a0\u201cgive back charms\u201d to support programs for pediatric patients at MD Anderson. The store also offers pop-up shops around the country and other philanthropic initiatives that give back.<\/p>\n
Jefferson has been so inspired by the Kendra Scott team that she hopes to work with them when she completes treatment.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am supposed to be done with treatment in April and I\u2019m going to go apply at the store in The Woodlands,\u201d Jefferson said. \u201cThey have helped me feel better when I have been having my worst days, and I want to do that for other people.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A line has formed outside of the PediDome, a multi-purpose room on the pediatric oncology floor at MD Anderson Children\u2019s Cancer Hospital. Children of all ages\u2014some walking with IV drips and some in wheelchairs\u2014are waiting with their families to make their very own piece of Kendra Scott jewelry. For Kayla Jefferson, 20, the Kendra Scott […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":11447,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[57,2566,2564,2565,1210,566,2567],"yoast_head":"\n