After Dog Attack, Union County Girl Bakes Cookies, Gives Back

UNION COUNTY, NJ — Two years ago, Cameron King was attacked by a dog in Tamaques Park in Westfield while attending her twin brothers' baseball game. Cameron, then 6, was placed on a breathing machine and underwent six hours of reconstructive surgery, according to her mother.

After dealing with flashbacks and harsh judgments — she did ask if she could pet the dog first, and was petting him softly, her mom says — she worried about other children dealing with similar stresses, and wondered how to give back.

"She knows that there are children in the world that have been involved in accidents like her own," said her mother, Kara King, this week. "She wants them to be able to feel 'pretty' again, as she calls it."

Cameron, now 7, loves to bake. With help from her family, she recently started "Cami's Stuffed Cookies," which gained a following on Instagram and other social media.

The cookies have been selling well, and she donates a percentage of the proceeds to charities that matter to her.

Among them is the Plastic Surgery Foundation-Caring for Kids, which provides medical care and reconstructive surgery to disadvantaged infants, children and teens with physical deformities caused by birth defects, accidents, abuse, or disease.

The money also goes to the Alzheimer's Assocation, an important cause to the King family because Cameron's grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease in July of 2019.

The company also has donated batches of cookies to the Westfield police and fire departments.

Late last month, Assemblyman John Bramnick honored Cameron with a proclamation.

"She still has triggers that she deals with daily," said Kara King, "loud barking, dogs that get too excited, dogs still allowed on the fields which is quite upsetting ... but she is one of the strongest and bravest little girls that I am proud to call my own."

She added, "While she is self-conscious of her scar, I don’t even see it anymore because she has such a beautiful heart. She would give you the shirt off of her back if she could, and she always sees the good in everything. She’s wise beyond her years and honestly stronger then I ever could have been."

Find Cami's Stuffed Cookies on Instagram (@camisstuffedcookies) and Facebook.

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