SZA Receives Praise For Quietly Helping Ill Fan Get New Kidney

BY Erika Marie 2.5K Views
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SZA
Not all good deeds need to be made public.

Social media is often used to spew hate, criticism, and unwarranted judgment. In an effort to switch narratives, businesswoman Arlene Dickinson posed a question to her 357K followers on Twitter that quickly went viral: "Whats the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you?" There were thousands of responses, but one woman's story warmed the hearts of many.

Leah Javon shared that Grammy-nominated singer SZA has gone above and beyond for her as she battles Lupus, Sickle Cell, and Crohn's Disease. Leah replied to Dickinson by writing, "SZA gave me her #, got me into two concerts of hers free & on tour bus, sent me & my wife to Universal Studios before I started chemo, helped me pay for chemo, donated $ (which will remain undisclosed), shared my fundraiser several times, & helped find me a kidney😭😭😭🦋."

Back in December 2017, Leah tweeted a message out to the world, hoping to sell off some of her hand-crafted items to help pay for her treatments. "A RT can save my life. I’m 23, I have Lupus & Crohn’s disease," Leah said. "I’m going through IV infusion treatments that involve a chemo. I’m on oxygen. I work from home & I’m in online school. I make items to pay for medical expenses, plz buy or donate to help." SZA, who had already been introduced to Leah, retweeted the message, pleading with her fans to get tested to help Leah find a kidney. Evidently, it worked, and while Leah continues to struggle with the pain brought on by her diseases, she's eternally grateful for all SZA has done.

About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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