If you know Kylie Hopwood, you know she’s always the first one to help—whether it’s for family, a friend, a colleague, or an animal in need.

For 14 years, she’s helped support pre-school students and their families as a speech language pathologist in the Del Mar Unified School District.

For more than six years, she’s donated her time as a volunteer with the Baja Animal Sanctuary, spending weekends at adoption drives and helping to coordinate forever homes for animals in need. (Not to mention adopting her own rescue dog, Enzo, and rescue cat, Scout, from Baja!)

For more than a decade, she took care of her retired horse, Louie, making sure that he always felt the same sense of love and purpose even though he was no longer under saddle.

And, of course, for her entire life, Kylie has been a best friend to me, her sister. She’s the most thoughtful, fun Aunty her two young nephews, Kade and Darcy, could ever ask for. She’s an amazing daughter, granddaughter, niece, cousin and friend. She’s part of a great community of people as a consultant for Rodan + Fields. And she’s an incredible advocate for animals, taking part in fundraising walks and stopping anytime she sees a stray cat or dog roaming the streets (yes, she’ll go door-to-door until she makes sure that animal finds its way home!).  

There are many, many wonderful things that Kylie is … and now, she is also a breast cancer fighter.

Kylie was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in February 2019 — a month before her 39th birthday.

And while Kylie is the first person to offer help in any situation she can, she’s also the last person who would ever ask for it herself. That’s why I’m asking (along with Kylie’s family and good friends) for your support to get her through this challenging time.
 
Triple negative breast cancer is a rarer form of breast cancer (accounting for around 10-20% of breast cancers). It’s also known to be an aggressive form. Thankfully, Kylie’s was caught early and she is already on the road to recovery.
 
Kylie underwent surgery to have the tumor and some lymph nodes removed in late February. In mid-March, she begins chemotherapy. She’ll undergo four chemotherapy sessions three weeks apart, followed by a course of radiation.    
 
During this time, Kylie will be on extended disability leave from work. To help Kylie focus on her health, we are asking for any support you’re able to give.

Your support will help:

·       Cover co-pays as well as any extra medical expenses not covered by insurance

·       Cover expenses incurred during the treatment phase, such as parking fees and gas to and from appointments

·       Ensure Kylie can get some extra help with daily living tasks when she isn’t feeling well (hire a cleaner, order healthy meal deliveries, etc)

·       Send Enzo to doggie day camp at Markim Pet Resort in Carmel Valley so that Kylie can rest easy knowing Enzo has been well exercised

Any support you are able to give (it doesn’t matter if it’s $5 or $50!) will be a great boost to Kylie’s journey to overcome triple negative breast cancer. Thank you in advance—already, it’s been overwhelming to hear everyone’s words of kindness and encouragement.  

Also, please check back to this page frequently for updates on how Kylie’s doing!
 
With positivity and my sincerest gratitude,

Kendall


Kylie in Melbourne, Australia, for the birth of her first nephew, Kade, in 2015 


Kylie, Louie and Enzo on a cold day at the barn



Kendall and Kylie with Kylie's nephews at the San Diego Wild Animal Park in 2018 

Kylie all smiles with her second nephew, Darcy, in 2018 

Out and about in San Diego 

Kylie and Kade mastering the silly-face selfie :-) 

Kylie and her rescue dog, Enzo, enjoying San Diego's beach scene


At a Rodan + Fields event