Hello everyone, I’m raising money for childhood cancer research! Unfortunately, many are affected by this disease including my childhood friend Kyla.
Kyla was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma cancer on March 28, 2011. Ewing’s is an extremely rare cancer that occurs in and around the bones. This type of cancer was found in her scapula, and the surgery to remove it took more than half of her arm’s range of motion away. That year she spent 320 days and nights in Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. Kyla never imagined “considering a hospital home, or not being able to attend school and live a normal life along with her friends.” After some time, Kyla was led to believe that she had defeated cancer.. But fifteen months after successfully ending chemo treatments, a MRI revealed two new masses in her head. The cancer came back. Kyla had to undergo 30 more long radiation treatments and 19 more months of chemotherapy. After this, in February of 2015, Kyla was once again, cancer free. She was able to finish high school, and she got accepted into the University of Connecticut’s Nursing Program. Everything was going great, and she felt like she could finally make plans for her future and start to live a regular life. She moved out and to the University where she started to enjoy some of the freedoms and perks of living a cancer-free collegiate life. After a few weeks, she started developing severe back pains, and was immediately rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. Kyla was told that her cancer came back and was now in her spine, sternum, and neck. The cancer eventually spread through her whole spine, pelvis, hips, legs, arms, and skull. She was put on a multitude of drugs and began radiation and chemotherapy for the third time. On December 20th of 2016, Kyla met with her doctor after having a MRI and pet scan to see where her cancer was. “The results showed a lot of disease progression unfortunately. Kyla was told that she had a few months to live and that she had to start thinking in terms of that there’s an end of the road.”
Despite her ongoing battle against cancer, and all of the unknowns that it brings, Kyla has kept a positive outlook on life and has viewed her journey as a gift. Kyla finds every opportunity to give back to the hospital, in addition, she gets involved with many organizations that deal with childhood cancer. Kyla has started a fundraiser for Chemo/radiation survival kits (that she created) in order to make going through cancer easier for other kids, and has already raised over $35,450 in two months. Kyla also raises money every Christmas for toys, gas and grocery gift cards to give to other families in the Oncology unit that “aren’t as fortunate as she.” She speaks at many events, and galas about her experiences and viewpoint on cancer. Kyla serves as a role model, inspiration, and friend to many that are fighting the battle of Cancer, and I would like to help raise money in honor of Kyla, and for all of the children who are fighting the same fight as she.
