VIDEO: Darren taught a big lesson by a 12-year-old
12-year-old Keely Crocker is a Grade 7 learner at Amanzimtoti Primary School.
She loves music, writes her own songs, plays the guitar and is learning the keyboard.
She is passionate about music and her dream is most definitely to be famous and have her own record label one day.
She has taken part in talent shows and done well. She entered the Bambino category of East Coast Got Talent in 2011 and won, singing Michael Jackson’s song, “Ben”.
In 2013 she entered the highly contested Gateway to Fame talent search competition at the Barnyard and was placed second in the Junior category, singing her version of “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables.
She was also a winner in the Khanya Hospice Got Talent competition and won a recording of a song she wrote, called “Never in Love”.
Take a listen to her song here:
Keely surprised Darren and Natarah this morning in studio and showed him exactly how one should sing:
More about Keely:
Keely sang at Reach for a Dream’s 25th birthday celebrations and was also invited to sing at their fundraiser at Sibiya Entertainment Kingdom. She has also sung at Entabeni Life Hospital’s Aids Day campaign two years running and has sung for various charities and special occasions.
Last year she took part in her first Schools Drug Awareness Roadshow and loved the experience. She also co-wrote and sang a song called “Hope” with three others artists for a Drug Awareness documentary. This was a highlight of her singing career and she said it felt good to get the message across through her singing.
She sang in “A Tribute to Disney” which was an Amanzimtoti Community Project Show. Part of the proceeds went to the SPCA which is one of her favourite charities.
Keely‘s life changed forever when she was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease in February 2012 after a biopsy on both kidneys confirmed FSGS (Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis). At this stage there is no cure for FSGS. Keely has about 35% kidney function, but her condition is presently stable. Her treatment over a two year period was aggressive. She was put on heavy doses of cortisone, oral chemotherapy and IV Immune Suppressant therapy to try and keep the disease suppressed. She had a port insertion in her chest, but it was always problematic and after a year it was removed.
She battled with adrenal insufficiency caused by the withdrawal of steroids and was on treatment for papilledema (swollen optic nerves) and Intracranial Hypertension (pressure on the brain) most probably caused by steroids. Keely takes chronic medication to keep the disease under control.
Through all she has been through , Keely stays positive, lives life to the fullest and doesn’t let her disease get her down. She still tries to take part in as many sporting activities as before she was diagnosed. She never complains, even if she has just been through a rough time, she will always say that she is fine.
Through her singing, Keely would like to be an inspiration to other children with chronic diseases like hers and to encourage them to follow their dreams.
Keely will be competing in the Talent Africa National Championships in Gauteng in March, after obtaining gold in the Provincial Championships and will also be singing at the Annual Highland Gathering @ Hutchinson Park on 2 May.