Please assist Kayla's ability to walk again, normally & pain free!
Hi, after way too many doctor appointments, MRIs & numerous treatments Kayla will be having a Stem Cell (& Bone Marrow) procedure. Her knee surgeries will take place February 19th and again April 16th. Kayla was able to survive MPAL Leukemia, thank God!!! But, the aftermath has been brutal to her body. If you are able, we would very much appreciate donations to offset the cost, as it's not covered by insurance. And unfortunately, I am a single Mom of 3.
I am Karin. My oldest daughter Kayla Keegan got MPAL Leukemia when she was 16 years old. Her 2.5 years of treatments have caused her to have AVN, avascular necrosis in BOTH of her knees. She has been in constant pain for over a year. She can hardly walk & has trouble even getting out of bed. We have gone around & around with doctors. No traditional solutions are available for her (doctors feel she’s too young for knee replacements) & that they wouldn’t guarantee her pain free days or be successful. Kayla is now 19 years old (please see her health struggles below). Please assist me in getting some relief for Kayla, every little bit will make a difference. Thank you!
We have seen over 6 Orthopedics, pain management doctors, had many physical therapist sessions. Kayla has also tried the "turkey shot", cortisol shot, genicular nerve block procedure, medicines, acupuncture ETC. There is no real "medical cure for this condition". Kayla has been a tremendous amount of pain & her condition is getting significantly worse. 19 year olds should not have chronic pain! Especially after the 2.5 long hellish years Kayla has spent in & out of the hospital fighting for her life.
Kayla's past Leukemia roller costar....
On February 9th, 2023 Kayla’s mom, Karin, was directed to rush Kayla to Pittsburgh’s Children’s Hospital. After several weeks of testing, it was determined that she has MPAL (Mixed Phenotype Acute Leukemia). This is a very rare condition that represents only 3-5% of acute leukemias. Kayla has passed many milestones, over the summer, seeing the cancer go into remission, getting her driver’s license, but was recently re-admitted to the hospital, and has been in the Intensive Care Unit the past 2 weeks.
After being rushed to the hospital, she was diagnosed with a fungal infection, in her lungs, and a bacterial infection, in the port she receives the chemo treatments. Because her white blood cell count was zero for over 3 weeks, she has been sedated and put on a ventilator (breathing tube). Kayla is still currently in the ICU battling both (which has affected her brain). She will be spending Thanksgiving, and many more weeks, probably Christmas, in the hospital, and months of rehabilitation. Unfortunately, this time she's fighting for her life! The Dr. said that he expects her to be sedated, as well as on the ventilator, for at least another week.
Karin, a single mom, with 3 kids, has spent countless hours by Kayla during this fight. While doing so, this momma bear has not been able to work. She was planning on going back in Dec., but this emergency has sidetracked that. She will not be able to in the near future, with the tough road ahead. Karin will be by her daughter’s side.
Kayla, prior to this, was a pretty normal teenager. Being on the phone, texting, face-timing, laughing at Tik Tok videos, going to the mall and spending time with her younger siblings, Kylie (14) and Jacob (12), but has had her hardships too. Kayla lost her Dad at 11. It’s also terrible to see her spending her senior year of high school, in a hospital room.
You don’t ever want to see something like this happen to anyone, let alone someone you love. It’s hard to hear the news. It’s absolutely brutal to witness.
Please do what you can to help Kayla and take some of the pressure off of Karin and her family. I also ask you to forward this to anyone who might be able to help.
God bless you, and God bless Kayla. Please keep her in your prayers.
December 2023
We are so happy 2023 is coming to a close! We thought Kayla would be ringing in 2024 with only a year of maintenance chemo left! Kayla isn’t currently standing or walking on her own yet; but she is making tremendous progress. She’s working hard daily in speech, occupational & physical therapy in the Children’s Hospital Rehabilitation Unit inpatient. The plan is tentatively scheduled to go back to all outpatient treatments starting mid January (outpatient chemo for 2 more active months & then maintenance chemo for 12 to 14 months plus physical & occupational therapy) Our new goal is for all of her therapies to be completed by her 18th birthday which is early April; God willing. Thank you again to all who have been support in love, prayers, words of encouragement & financially. Kayla’s healing would not be possible without you! Love to all! Kayla has been at Children’s now for 6+ weeks (this time). We’ve bounced between 3 floors. Currently, Kayla is now on the rehabilitation unit (after 20 days on the ventilator - 22 nights in the ICU. She’s learning to stand, walk & talk again! She isn’t able to stand for even 5 seconds, alone. However, Kayla is very motivated to get out of the hospital! The current “approved plan” is tentatively scheduled for discharge, January 11th. Missing another major holiday…
February 2024 ~ Kayla walks again after her ICU stay! Thank God! Kayla is slowly getting her strength back. February 9th has come & gone. It was one year ago that Kayla was diagnosed with MPAL Leukemia! She's expected to start maintenance chemo in about 3 weeks. It will last between 12-14 more months. Karin, Kayla's Mom, hasn't been able to work in a year because of the intense care required to battle Leukemia. It's been a tough road for Kayla & her
July 2025 ~ Kayla concluded her chemotherapy treatments & rang the bell!
As of February 9th, 2023 it will be 3 years post Kayla's diagnosis. The cancer is still in remission as of today 2/4/2026. Praise God!!! Working on walking pain free is now the goal. Thank you for all who have love & stood by our side the last few years!