HENRICO COUNTY, Va. -- If you spend a few minutes with Alyvia Hathaway, you realize you are sitting with someone wise beyond her years. While the eight-year-old Carver Elementary School student likes to have fun, she also thrives on paying it forward. In 2013, instead of a birthday bash, Alyvia requested a fashion show fundraiser. She spent hundreds of dollars in proceeds on the homeless in Richmond’s Monroe Park.
"I felt bad for them. I wanted to help people that didn’t have a home or any toys," Alyvia said. "I bought toys and lunches and shoes for them and clothes and I bought all of that.
Alyvia’s mother Angela called her daughter a giver who never asked for anything in return. A point the child helped prove one year later when she recruited walkers and donors for the Central Virginia Kidney Walk in October 2014.
Alyvia Hathaway
"I had to walk a mile and I raised $1,000," Alyvia said. "It was awesome that all of those people wanted to help me."
The Kidney Walk was an issue close to Alyvia’s heart. From the day she was born Alyvia has battled her own serious kidney disease. When she turned three and a half, doctors decided to was time she had surgery.
"In the middle of the night my stomach hurt all of the time. It felt horrible I couldn’t take it," Alyvia recalled.
Countless hospital stays and surgeries changed Alyvia’s perspective on life. Alyvia said it pains her to see people who are less fortunate.
"I think her receiving that love from others allowed her to give love out and don’t need anything in return," Alyvia’s mother said. "We’ll drive down the street in Richmond and see an empty house and say, ‘Why can’t we build a building for the homeless. Or why can’t we make this a hospital for the sick.'"
Alyvia has made it her mission in life to bring joy to others.
"You should think of others. Don’t think of yourself because that is being selfish. I wasn’t selfish," Alyvia said.
Alyvia’s aunt Tamika Hathaway said other children, and even adults, could learn a big lesson from this little girl.
"It is a lifestyle for her," Tamika said. "She is humble. She doesn’t realize how special she really is and what she is doing. This is not for show."
Alyvia’s mother said despite her daughter’s physical hardships, she has never failed to make her mom beam with pride by putting others first.
"That is who that little girl is," Angela said. "I don’t ever want her to change that. Ever. Ever. Ever."
One of Alyvia’s next kind acts will be organizing a team to walk in a November fundraiser to fight prostate cancer. She still sees doctors every six months and is scheduled to undergo additional testing in September.
Greg McQuade and CBS 6 News are featuring local heroes in a weekly “Heroes Among Us” segment. Watch Greg’s reports Thursdays on CBS News at 6 or here on WTVR.com. If you would like to nominate someone to be featured on “Heroes Among Us,” click here to email heroes@wtvr.com.
