Their daughter, Keely (12), a competitive dancer had been having knee pain for a couple month, chalked up to overuse, or maybe Osgood-Schlatters. Her pediatrician called Lynda at 8 am that Friday and told her that they'd like to admit Keely to take another look at her knee with a contrast MRI. 

And then, the world turned upside down.

Keely was officially diagnosed with Osteosarcoma - a rare form of cancer, bone cancer - in her upper left tibia. 9 days after starting that road trip to Mammoth, Keely started the first of what will be 18 rounds of brutal chemotherapy. Over the past 9 months she has undergone 3 major surgeries, including multiple skin grafts and the amputation of her left leg above her knee. She spent 13 days in a coma following one of the surgeries. 

She has three round of chemo left. Soon she will be fit for a prosthetic. The treatment for osteosarcoma has not changed in over 35 years. That's not a typo. In 35 years, there has not been a single advance in the treatment for osteo due to a lack of funding. Without research, there can be no breakthroughs, and kids continue to lose life, limb or other functions because the science is just not there.

On May 25th, Team Mike Hess Brewing is shaving their heads to raise money for Pediatric Cancer Research funding.

You can join this St. Baldrick's event by shaving your head, and helping us to raise funds, by donating to your favorite teammate (it all goes to the same place!) and/or by sharing this page with YOUR friends and letting them join us and St. Baldricks in the efforts to find a cure.

The St. Baldrick's Foundation is a volunteer-powered charity that funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government.

Get involved and you'll be giving hope to infants, children, teens and young adults fighting childhood cancers, like Keely Hess.