Kayla Collins is perfecting a card trick, turning the cards in different directions.
"And then magic happens… so when I cut the deck they should all be facing the same way," Collins explains.
What You Need To Know
- 17-year-old Kayla Collins is learning magic and getting help from famed illusionist David Blaine through Young Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital
- Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital's Child Life Center uses music, entertainment, comfort dogs and sometimes magic to helping its young patient deal with pain, anxiety, and loneliness
- Collins suffers from sickle cell disease and says the pain is so immense she need constant distractions and magic is the best one because it allows her to enter a new world
- David Blaine says Collins' enthusiasm helps reminds him of the power of magic for others and her upbeat attitude uplifts everyone around her
And like many magicians she has an ace up her sleeve. A big one. David Blaine. Collins was diagnosed with Sickle Cell disease at a young age and spends a lot of time at the Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital where illusionist and endurance artist David Blaine often performs and teaches tricks to kids, now virtually during the pandemic.
"One of the pleasures of being a magician is kind of instantly making someone happier," Blaine told us.
"There's the magic he's doing and then there's the layer of magic just underneath that magic of how it helps children coping with pain," said Diane Rode, the Child Life Director at Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital.
In that role, she oversees the many programs that help children cope with the physical emotional toll of their medical challenges.
Sickle cell disease can be incredibly painful and debilitating. Kayla describes it this way: "It's like a hundred knives in my back... in and out."
That's why she's loved learning magic.
"I need a ton of distractions and magic is probably the best one you can get because it is a whole new reality," said Collins, who is 17-years-old and lives in Manhattan with her family.
"It's inspiring to me because I'm like excited again you know like wow this is such a great way to see from an outsiders point of you what the magic does," says Blaine.
Does Kayla name drop a bit? Of course she does!
"Yes I'm like I'll be at the hospital with David Blaine," she told us breaking into laughter.
She's also quick to encourage others facing challenges.
"Just know that this is a momentary thing, whether or not you have a chronic illness or something has come up in your life just know this isn't your entire life.. think back to a time when you were at your highest ,you're happy you are thriving and just know you're going to get back there," she said.
Her upbeat attitude uplifts those around her including her family.
"When I think of all the things she has to endure that most people can't endure in a lifetime I just am really inspired and proud of how she handles it gracefully," said her mom, Evelyn Zambrano.
"Besides just being brilliant and incredible and so inquisitive she is also just a beam of light shining through," said Blaine.
And of course she did try to perform her new card trick for us.
"Okay this is the moment of truth if I did it correctly or not... are all of them facing the same way (they were.) I think I actually did it. I did it," she told us with a satisfied smile.
She did, but perhaps Kayla's real magic is how she inspires others.