A 7-year-old San Jose girl with a life-threatening heart condition will realize her dream of being a famous singer today when the local Make-A-Wish Foundation hosts the premiere of her music video with a red carpet event in San Francisco.
Kassaundra Ramirez suffers from cardiomyopathy, a weakening of the heart muscle. She had a pacemaker inserted at an early age, and it has to be replaced every four years for the rest of her life, according to Elaine Kauffman, public affairs director of the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Kassaundra has sung and danced since the age of two and “wants to be a star,” Kauffman said.
“She would pick something up and pretend it’s a microphone, and has a guitar and writes her own songs,” she said.
Kassaundra was referred to the Make-A-Wish Foundation because of her life-threatening medical condition, which has since stabilized, and her wish was to be a famous singer, which Kauffman admitted is “a little unique” compared to other wishes the foundation grants.
“We have kids that want to be extras in a movie, and things like that,” she said. “This is not a normal wish.”
To grant Kassaundra’s wish, the foundation is organizing a red carpet event today at the Grand Hyatt San Francisco, located near Union Square, where about 250 people are expected to attend to see the debut of a music video for “Butterfly Don’t Fly Away,” a song she wrote.
Contributions from local businesses enabled Kassaundra to go on a shopping spree for her music video wardrobe, receive voice lessons from a vocal coach, have professional headshots taken, go in for a recording session in a studio, and film her own music video.
Today, Kassaundra will arrive via limousine and walk up a red carpet flanked by bodyguards and enter the hotel’s ballroom where the music video will be played. The program will be followed by a press conference where she will sign autographed copies of her CD and headshots.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation is inviting the public to participate in the wish. People can RSVP or find out more information about the wish here.
“We’re hoping to have as many people as possible to make Kassaundra feel really special,” Kauffman said.
The event is scheduled for 4 p.m. today at the hotel located at 345 Stockton St. in San Francisco.
