Shining Star

Maya is a smart, caring, and loving ten-and-a-half-year-old girl who enjoys writing, dancing, reading, and learning. Shining Star is the second book Maya has published. She is also the writer and illustrator of Operation Eye, which shares her story of perseverance and strength during and after going through eye surgeries. This medically complex warrior has numerous diagnoses, one of which is Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome. Among its many impacts on her health and development, it caused her to develop glaucoma at a very young age. Maya has already undergone two semi-successful surgeries to manage it with several more slated in the coming months. Aside from being an author, she aspires to be an anesthesiologist so that she can play an active role in helping children through their surgeries.