Makayla's Journey to KICK CANCER
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Last year at this time, Makayla was a normal, healthy, energetic seven year old getting ready to start the first day of second grade. She enjoyed karate, camping, riding her bike, swimming and spending time with her family and friends.
Her life changed dramatically on November 22, 2014 when Makayla was taken to immediate care for what was thought to be a possible mild concussion. There, they ran a CT scan that found a mass in her cerebellum. She was rushed to the emergency room at Central DuPage Hospital and, just two days later, on November 24, she had emergency surgery to remove the 3 ½ centimeter tumor.
Further testing determined the tumor was cancerous and Makayla was diagnosed with stage IV Anaplastic Medulloblastoma. Because this is an extremely aggressive type of tumor, her treatment plan has also been very aggressive. She completed six weeks of her first round of chemotherapy and radiation treatments on February 4, 2015. She then had an MRI to confirm the treatment had been successful to date. Her second phase of treatments began on March 20, 2015 with monthly chemotherapy treatments. Makayla spent three days a month, for six long months, receiving in-patient chemotherapy treatments at CDH. These necessary treatments caused her white blood cell counts to drop to 0.00, which caused a fever and required further hospitalization from seven to ten days as her body stabilized.
Unfortunately, Makayla has not been able to attend school and has worked with a tutor to maintain her schoolwork. Makayla’s mom, Carol, has had to take an unpaid leave of absence from her employer to take Makayla to her daily appointments. Michael, Makayla’s dad, has also had to take a significant amount of unpaid time off to meet with doctors and continue her treatment plan.
Makayla has impacted many lives around her! She is helping other families like hers and has collected over 100 pounds of pop tabs for Ronald McDonald House at Central DuPage Hospital. Ronald McDonald House provides a temporary home and comfort for families going through this same struggle that live further from the hospital facility.
Makayla has amazed everyone with her humor, cheerfulness and optimism as she has gone through this difficult journey. Makayla has stayed strong and has refused to let cancer get the best of her. Please keep Makayla in your thoughts and prayers and she continues her fight to “Kick Cancer”!!
Her life changed dramatically on November 22, 2014 when Makayla was taken to immediate care for what was thought to be a possible mild concussion. There, they ran a CT scan that found a mass in her cerebellum. She was rushed to the emergency room at Central DuPage Hospital and, just two days later, on November 24, she had emergency surgery to remove the 3 ½ centimeter tumor.
Further testing determined the tumor was cancerous and Makayla was diagnosed with stage IV Anaplastic Medulloblastoma. Because this is an extremely aggressive type of tumor, her treatment plan has also been very aggressive. She completed six weeks of her first round of chemotherapy and radiation treatments on February 4, 2015. She then had an MRI to confirm the treatment had been successful to date. Her second phase of treatments began on March 20, 2015 with monthly chemotherapy treatments. Makayla spent three days a month, for six long months, receiving in-patient chemotherapy treatments at CDH. These necessary treatments caused her white blood cell counts to drop to 0.00, which caused a fever and required further hospitalization from seven to ten days as her body stabilized.
Unfortunately, Makayla has not been able to attend school and has worked with a tutor to maintain her schoolwork. Makayla’s mom, Carol, has had to take an unpaid leave of absence from her employer to take Makayla to her daily appointments. Michael, Makayla’s dad, has also had to take a significant amount of unpaid time off to meet with doctors and continue her treatment plan.
Makayla has impacted many lives around her! She is helping other families like hers and has collected over 100 pounds of pop tabs for Ronald McDonald House at Central DuPage Hospital. Ronald McDonald House provides a temporary home and comfort for families going through this same struggle that live further from the hospital facility.
Makayla has amazed everyone with her humor, cheerfulness and optimism as she has gone through this difficult journey. Makayla has stayed strong and has refused to let cancer get the best of her. Please keep Makayla in your thoughts and prayers and she continues her fight to “Kick Cancer”!!
Organizer
RainbowAcademy ChildCare
Organizer
Carol Stream, IL
