44 • JANUARY 2024
KIDS WHO CARE Kelby Desper PolkMistie CHANGING THE WORLD ONE FRIENDSHIP AT A TIME... Pearl Junior High School 8th grader Kelby Polk may just be “treating everyone the way the Bible tells us,” but to her peers and community, she is changing lives of those around her. Kelby’s family, dad Jeff, mom Robin, and sister Callie, are invested in their home church, Truitt Baptist. There, Kelby helps her mom in the preschool Sunday school class and enjoys any activity the church hosts where she can serve others. “I really enjoy helping with the little kids.” Also active in school with theater, archery, and band, Kelby is a typical teenage girl that enjoys movies, shopping, and hanging out with friends. Shying away from some of the social norms of today, Kelby and her best friend, Casey, are showing the world that there is so much love and respect between them and they are just normal best friends, despite Casey’s special needs. Kelby met Casey through their church seven years ago and had an “instant bond.” Casey is a few years younger than Kelby, but they share a deep connection with one another. “I love her so much. She is like a little sister. When we met, we quickly became best friends.” Casey’s mom, Rachel Roberts, said, “People like Kelby see the world with so much compassion. It is so easy to get lost in the hurdles of being a special needs parent. It can be so isolating and full of fear. She shows Casey how she is worthy of love and respect, and it is such an encouragement to us all. Even when Casey was mistreated by others, Kelby supported her. Her heart just doesn’t understand how others can be so hurtful.” Kelby added, “I am believer in what the Bible tells me which is to treat everyone with love and do unto others as you’d want them to do to you. I want everyone to treat Casey well and with the same respect as anyone else. We all need to be there for each other.” Robin added, “She has always loved helping. I had two strokes a few years ago and she stepped right in doing whatever I needed of her. Kelby just always wants to do the right thing by everyone. She is very much a rule follower. God knows our plans always and giving me Kelby, especially as an older mom, has been such a blessing. She has so much compassion for life, for church, and for God. I couldn’t be more proud of who she is.” Kelby grew up having a family member with a physical disability, and often went to work with mom, Robin, at Hudspeth Regional Center where she gained a true understanding of how people could be treated because they were different. This deepened Kelby’s love of people in general and she saw, early on, the value and importance of everyone, no matter their physical or mental challenges. Robin said, “She just simply has a good heart.” Kelby said, “It makes me think of my favorite Bible verse, Jeremiah 29:11, which says, ‘For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ Everyone should be treated the same, especially those with special needs.” Best friend Casey added, “Kelby is my friend and I love her.” Kelby’s former teacher, Ginger Plaisance, already knew she was “always willing to help a classmate” but noticed her more because of her friendship with Casey. Having a daughter with Down syndrome, Ginger admits the worry she feels about how her daughter will be treated. “Knowing that there are still kids like Kelby out there gives me hope for her future, a hope that she will also be seen and recognized and loved for the person she is rather than a label society sees.” When asked how she felt about being a role model for other young ladies who witness her love and compassion for others, she concluded, “I think it is great to be looked up to and it’s such an honor to be noticed. I think it is important to be yourself and to be nice and respectful to everyone you meet. I heard a quote once that I have always loved, ‘Be the woman who fixes another woman’s crown without telling the world it was crooked.’” Although only in the 8th grade, Kelby hopes to pursue a career in the law field one day and be an advocate for those who need a voice. Kelby is changing the lives of those around her and showing others the importance of grace and kindness towards others. Hometown RANKIN • 45