Team Kaitlyn

My name is Kelly Kehoe and I have set up this account on behalf of my niece Kaitlyn Kehoe. Kaitlyn is the daughter of Brian & Trish Kehoe. Kaitlyn has just celebrated her 14th birthday on February 17, 2013 and on March 7, 2013 Kaitlyn was diagnosed with Osteogenic Chrondroblastic Sarcoma.


--About Osteogenic Chrondroblastic Sarcoma

Osteogenic Chrondroblastic Sarcoma is the eighth most common form of childhood cancer, comprising 2.4% of all cancer growths in pediatric patients, and approximately 20% of all primary bone cancers. It originates more frequently in the the growing part of a long bone between the diaphysis and the epiphysis region of tubular long bones, with 42% occurring in the femur. Kaitlyn's was found in her femur bone and has spread to her knee. Luckily, the doctors have not found that it has spread to any other location of her body.  After 10 weeks of chemotherapy, Kaitlyn will undergo a partial hip replacement as well as having the tumor removed. Following the surgeries, Kaitlyn will need Physical Therapy and approximately 20-30 more weeks of chemotherapy treatment. Osteogenic sarcoma is the sixth leading cancer in children under age 15. Osteogenic sarcoma affects 400 children under age 20 and 500 adults (most between the ages of 15-30) every year in the USA. Approximately 300 of the 900 will die each year. Kaitlyn has started her chemotherapy and will undergo surgery to remove the tumor's after 10 weeks of chemo. Although about 90% of patients are able to have limb-salvage surgery, complications - particularly infection, prosthetic loosening and non-union - or local tumor recurrence may cause the need for further surgery or amputation. Despite the success of chemotherapy for osteosarcoma, it has one of the lowest survival rates for pediatric cancer. The best reported 10-year survival rate is 92%; the protocol used is an aggressive intra-arterial regimen that individualizes therapy based on arteriographic response. Three-year event-free survival ranges from 50% to 75%, and five-year survival ranges from 60% to 85 % in some studies. Overall, 65-70% patients treated five years ago will be alive today. These survival rates are overall averages and vary greatly depending on the individual.

--A little about my beautiful niece Kaitlyn Marie Kehoe
Kaitlyn is a happy go lucky child who has a heart of gold and would do anything and everything she can to help anyone. Whether its family, friends, animals, people she might not even know, but they are dealing with something that is also personally important to her and that she cares about. She is a selfless child who is always worried about everyone else and their feelings before her own. Let me give you one example of many. When she was told by family that she might lose her hair, she said that she wanted to get her head shaved before she starts to lose it, because it would bother her more to see it come out in clumps. We advised her that maybe she shouldnt do that right away being that she might be one of the few that do not lose their hair and you wouldnt want to shave your beautiful hair if you dont have to, right. She comes out and says that even if she would be lucky enough to be one of the few to not lose her hair, she still wants to shave her head because there are many children not so lucky and she wouldnt feel its fair that she gets to keep her hair and these poor children not having the option. Kaitlyn has been so positive about her situation since she found out and she tries to keep her beautiful smile on her face at all times. Unfortunately, since she has started chemo, she has had some bad days and some good days, and of course when she isnt feeling well she isnt smiling too often, but the minute she starts to feel a little better, sure enough, we see that beautiful smile appear on her face.
The year 2013 hasnt had too good of a start for our family. Kaitlyn had just lost her Grandpop Kehoe February 1, 2013 which she took his loss very hard. Then March 7, 2013 she is diagnosed with this terrible disease which has only begun and she has a long hard road ahead of her. Donations for Team Kaitlyn will be used to pay medical expenses such as bills, medications and overall care for Kaitlyn. Please remember that there is no such thing as too small of a donation and whether you make a donation or not, spreading the word is just as helpful and appreciated. You will be able to "Share" the link to your FaceBook page so that your FaceBook friends can also see the link and make a donation if they wish to do so.
  

Thank you for your donation's and support,

Kaitlyn Kehoe's Family