Mikaela's fight against Leukemia

Our daughter Mikaela is five-years-old, turning six next month and just started kindergarten at Kaneohe Elementary this August. Mikaela has always been a healthy, very active, energetic, fun, silly, loving, friendly, caring little girl with such a big personality and an even bigger heart. 


On August 10, 2015, Mikaela was taken to the doctor for what was thought to be the stomach flu. The doctor then said she could have appendicitis. Thinking it would be a quick procedure to take out her appendix, there was another complication. Her blood work came back and revealed that all of Mikaela's blood cell counts were abnormal. Then, we were told the most shocking and devastating news any parent fears hearing, "Your daughter has Leukemia." Ever since that day, our whole world has been turned upside down and has been changed forever. Soon after we were given the news, we were admitted to Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children.  

The next day, Mikaela had a procedure done to determine the type of Leukemia she has. Her doctors diagnosed her with acute myeloid leukemia (AML); a cancer of the blood cells that is rare and aggressive but is curable. Mikaela's situation is a little more complicated because she also has appendicitis and colitis which the doctors cannot operate on because of her Leukemia.  Her appendicitis and colitis are being treated with very strong antibiotics in hopes that it will heal on its own without needing surgery. She is also going through chemotherapy for her Leukemia, which started on the 12th of August and may last for 4-6 months depending on how her body responds to the treatments.

It has been 20 days and counting since she has been in the hospital. Although it has been very exhausting for her, physically and mentally, she is handling it like a champ. Mikaela has been very strong through this whole process and is adapting to these difficult changes amazingly well. We are extremely proud of her. Seeing our little girl suffer through all of this has been the most difficult and humbling experience of our lives, but we are very positive that she will beat this and live the long, happy and healthy life that God intended for her. The immense outpouring of love, prayers and support she has received we will forever be grateful for. Knowing that she is not alone in this fight is what keeps her motivated to get better each day.

We are asking for your support to help with Mikaela's medical bills and any other expenses Mikaela may need. We won't know how much all of her medical bills will be till the end of all of this, but we want to be prepared for anything that may come our way. We don't have a goal amount in mind, but no amount is too little and everything helps.

We thank you all for your support, love and prayers in this fight with Mikaela against Leukemia. Any kind words or pictures you may have with Mikaela can be hashtagged on Instagram with #ourlittlefightermkbl