For April, we want to introduce you to Kennedi. At three years old, she was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma. Sarah, Kennedi’s mother, heard about us through a previous spotlight. We are excited to see the word getting out and that the packages do make a difference!

Kennedi was taken to the emergency room on October 8th because she was screaming in pain saying her left leg hurt and she was refusing to walk on it. My husband and I made 12 visits to doctors in a week and a half trying to figure out what was wrong. On October 21st, we brought Kennedi back to the emergency room. She was admitted as the doctor finally ordered an x-ray and found a spot on her left femur. They did an MRI the next morning and found what they thought was a huge bone infection. She was immediately taken to surgery to have the infection removed. The tissue was sent off for a biopsy and came back 5 days later that it was small round blue cancer cells. We were immediately transferred to Dell Children’s Hospital. The next day Kennedi went through another surgery to get more bone and tissue for further testing. We received the pathology report back two days later that Kennedi has Ewing sarcoma. Our hearts were shattered. Two days later Kennedi went through several more surgeries. Kennedi is currently on her 6th week of chemotherapy. Her current bone doctor wants to amputate her leg. We are fighting tooth and nail to get a second opinion for her leg. We currently spend one week in the hospital for chemo and one week at home. Every other week we are inpatient. My husband and I have both always worked. With Kennedi’s health I had to quit my job to be with her. My husband and I are not only scared to death about her health but also about what is going to happen with our finances. It is absolutely heart touching that there are people and places like you all that help families.

Not long after Sarah had written this, they were in touch with St Jude Children’s Research Hospital for options. The doctors there offered an alternative to amputation. In March, Kennedi had surgery at St Jude to remove the shaft portion of her femur. They placed an implant. All of this will allow her to continue to grow and the use of her leg. Kennedi has been able walk and dance thanks to this surgery. She is about halfway through her treatment and doing very well.

If you would like to contribute to Kennedi’s family, they have set up a GoFundMe. They have also set up a Facebook group.