King overcomes health issues to win crown
March 31, 2021, for The Oglethorpe Echo — Kamryn King was shocked when she woke up one morning in December unable to swallow or form words. Four months later, she was crowned Miss Oglethorpe County High School at the Miss Oglethorpe Pageant.
Tears of joy streamed down her face after her name was announced on Saturday afternoon to help mark a victory in her battle with what is still an unknown opponent.
Doctors haven’t been able to provide an exact diagnosis, but her mother Tracy said they think it’s a form of myasthenia gravis, a neuromuscular disorder which causes weakness in skeletal muscles.
King, who spent time in the hospital, including on her 18th birthday, worked on swallowing and speaking in therapy for several months with one particular goal in mind: To give a speech in front of an audience at the 2022 Miss Oglethorpe Pageant.
“I want people to know that you don't have to be the prettiest girl in the world. You can be like me, have a condition, and still come out and prove people wrong,” Kamryn said. “I wanted to hide this at first. But now I want people to know this is me.”
The pageant required two walks on stage, in casual and formalwear, and a brief speech from each contestant. Kamryn has struggled with broken speech, deteriorating eyesight and fatigued leg muscles since the onset of her condition, but said she thought participating could let others know it’s OK to be different.
“Before I got in the hospital, I wanted to do it for fun, you know, not to win,” she said. “But when I got in the hospital, I was like, ‘I need to share my story.’”
After a week filled with practices and pampering appointments, Kamryn spent Saturday morning having her hair and makeup done. Her mom helped her gather her things and get ready backstage. Mackenzie Bowling, a pageant emcee, memorized Kamryn’s speech and was ready to jump in if she needed help with her words, though Kamryn had rehearsed many times with her speech therapist, Madison Carr.
“Therapy is amazing,” Kamryn said. “My speech therapist and I have been practicing for a long time. Madison is always encouraging me.”
Kamryn received a standing ovation after her public declaration that she is an overcomer. Carr and Veronica Compton, a mentor who also deals with myasthenia gravis, were among Kamryn’s support team in the audience.
“(Veronica) has touched me, you know?” Kamryn said. “It's like I have somebody who knows what I'm going through. It's helped me a lot.”
Part of Miss Oglethorpe’s duty is to complete community service before passing off her crown. Kamryn said she hopes to serve hospitalized kids after being particularly touched by them in her three-day stay in the pediatrics unit.
“Even if it's me by myself, I’m Miss Oglethorpe High School — I have the biggest title. So I have to show the little girls how to encourage people,” Kamryn said. “I am a role model for them.”
Kamryn is aware this journey, which includes frequently traveling to Augusta for more tests, will be a long one. She said her faith has both carried her through and been strengthened by the unforeseen circumstances.
“She feels strongly that God is gonna heal her,” Tracy said. “It's just in His time.”
“I'm not gonna lie, like, I had kind of drifted from my faith, and this has brought me back to it because I see God working in me,” Kamryn said, struggling to get the words out. “This is my testimony.”