Help Kaylee live her dream after a tough battle with cancer

My niece Kaylee has shown remarkable strength and resilience in ways that most of us could never imagine. At just 15 years old, she was diagnosed with medulloblastoma grade 4, an aggressive form of brain cancer. At a time when she needed love and support the most, Kaylee found herself battling not only the illness but also the circumstances surrounding her.

Living in North Carolina, Kaylee was in a very difficult situation. Her parents, struggling with alcoholism, were unable to properly care for her, often leaving her in unsafe conditions. As a result, she endured countless hospital stays, many of them alone, and faced serious complications due to infections from her feeding tubes and environment not being kept clean.

Despite the overwhelming odds, Kaylee never lost her fighting spirit. Her spunky, fun-loving attitude has been a beacon of light throughout her darkest days, even when she celebrated holidays like Christmas alone in her hospital room, with only doctors and nurses around. We spent hours on FaceTime, trying to keep her company from afar, but the isolation she experienced was heart-wrenching.

Through all of this, Kaylee’s determination never wavered. She underwent brain surgery, radiation treatments, and fought for her life on multiple occasions. She pushed through some of the toughest moments, inspired by the love she has for her brothers and sister, who have always been her biggest motivators.

After one particularly devastating hospitalization due to yet another infection caused by her living conditions, our family knew we had to step in. My mother took a leave from work and moved to North Carolina to care for Kaylee. With the love and support she deserved, Kaylee began to recover. It was clear that returning to her parents was not an option if she was to survive.

Kaylee had to make the brave decision to fight for her own life, even if it meant standing up against her parents in court. In a wheelchair, weak from cancer treatments and infections, Kaylee faced them and told the court her truth. She fought for her right to live in a safe and caring environment, and the court granted custody to her grandmother.

Today, Kaylee is 19 years old, and although the tumor in her brain is gone, the ones in her spine remain stable. She has endured years of chemotherapy, which has taken a toll on her body, but she still maintains her joyful spirit. She never asks for anything for herself, always more concerned with others’ well-being, despite all she has been through.

Now that chemotherapy has stopped, Kaylee is trying to regain her strength and rebuild her life. One of her dreams is to swim with sea turtles in Hawaii or California and to travel with her brothers, who have been her rock throughout this difficult journey.

Asking for help is never easy, but Kaylee is an extraordinary young woman who deserves the chance to experience joy and adventure after everything she’s been through. Any donation, big or small, would mean the world to her, and help her achieve these dreams that have kept her going through some of her toughest days.

Thank you so much for your kindness, support, and generosity in helping Kaylee find the happiness and freedom she’s fought so hard for.