About
Naomi's life is a sacred example of being raised in love and by a village of family, church, teachers, artists, ministers, musicians and more.
Beyond being a stellar student, violinist, dancer, gardner, lego guru and author--Naomi is child of God.
Her passion and care for others is at the core of her book, My Daddy Needs a Gift. As a child who has experienced the scare of losing a parent, Naomi has made it her mission to encourage others of all ages to be healthy and more importantly to cherish family.
Someday she hopes to become a transplant surgeon and help other families the way her family was helped.
" I had the honor and privilege of meeting Naomi and her mom at the New Orleans Kidney Walk. I am a social worker for dialysis patients and I shared Naomi’s story. Words cannot express how much the patients loved the story. They were very inspired, and it became a part of my lobby day presentation for 2 days."
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Dawn Duplantis
"What Naomi DeBerry has done is personalize a story that so many of us have left distant because it is too uncomfortable - how we take care of each other. With vibrant illustrations (by the incredible Jasmine Mills) and clear, thoughtful text this incredible child informs us about what kidneys do and what communities and families can do to help. From the glossary of terms to the personal photos of the DeBerry family, this book punches up when compared with sappy “educational” books for kids about medical treatment. It informs without pandering or talking down. It shares honestly. It is a must read for any kid who has an interest in medicine or activism. And it’s a reminder of why we hope. God bless you, Aisha, and every other Aisha who has given the gift of life."
K. Dabbs