Love for Leighton as she battles Leukemia
Donation protected
It started with a persistent limp and unexplained leg pain. Frequent trips to urgent care and her primary care physician showed nothing to alarm the doctors. We were searching for the cause of these mysterious pains this sweet little girl was enduring.
On a typical Friday night in Texas, at her uncle's high school football game, we watched as Leighton mouthed along with the cheerleaders. She knows all the cheers. She and Mom, (Jessie) were excited about gymnastics class, as that's the first step to becoming a cheerleader herself. 12 hours later, she was in terrible pain and our lives were forever changed. August 28, 2021, we were at Cook Children's Hospital receiving the nightmare diagnosis of B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Hopes and dreams of becoming a cheerleader and playing soccer were replaced by talk of survival rates and prayers for the pain to let up. We mourned the childhood we thought she'd have and prepared for the tough road ahead.
Prior to cancer, Leighton was a typical little girl that needed mommy kisses on her bumps and bruises, didn't like getting shots, and thought mermaid Band-Aids had magic healing powers. Now she has a port-a-cath installed above her heart and endures endless blood tests, frequent spinal taps, and bone marrow biopsies. Life for this 6 year old little girl is now centered on treatment.
The first phase of treatment brought weekly chemo and daily steroids. She barely left the bed for six weeks of pain, fatigue, and nausea. We are now in the second phase of treatment which means more energy and less pain, but daily, as well as weekly, chemo and the reality that she would lose her long beautiful hair. The doctors said full treatment protocol will last at least 2 years from original diagnosis.
We're hopeful...prayerful, about the future. But for now, all focus is on healing and keeping the girls spirits up. Jessie is dedicated to the treatment protocol and spending as much time loving and supporting Leighton as possible. So, even if everything goes as smoothly as possible, she won't be able to work for the foreseeable future. We, Jessie's parents, Leighton's grandparents, are asking for your help to ease financial fears and allow them the time to concentrate on healing. Peace and blessings in advance.
On a typical Friday night in Texas, at her uncle's high school football game, we watched as Leighton mouthed along with the cheerleaders. She knows all the cheers. She and Mom, (Jessie) were excited about gymnastics class, as that's the first step to becoming a cheerleader herself. 12 hours later, she was in terrible pain and our lives were forever changed. August 28, 2021, we were at Cook Children's Hospital receiving the nightmare diagnosis of B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Hopes and dreams of becoming a cheerleader and playing soccer were replaced by talk of survival rates and prayers for the pain to let up. We mourned the childhood we thought she'd have and prepared for the tough road ahead.
Prior to cancer, Leighton was a typical little girl that needed mommy kisses on her bumps and bruises, didn't like getting shots, and thought mermaid Band-Aids had magic healing powers. Now she has a port-a-cath installed above her heart and endures endless blood tests, frequent spinal taps, and bone marrow biopsies. Life for this 6 year old little girl is now centered on treatment.
The first phase of treatment brought weekly chemo and daily steroids. She barely left the bed for six weeks of pain, fatigue, and nausea. We are now in the second phase of treatment which means more energy and less pain, but daily, as well as weekly, chemo and the reality that she would lose her long beautiful hair. The doctors said full treatment protocol will last at least 2 years from original diagnosis.
We're hopeful...prayerful, about the future. But for now, all focus is on healing and keeping the girls spirits up. Jessie is dedicated to the treatment protocol and spending as much time loving and supporting Leighton as possible. So, even if everything goes as smoothly as possible, she won't be able to work for the foreseeable future. We, Jessie's parents, Leighton's grandparents, are asking for your help to ease financial fears and allow them the time to concentrate on healing. Peace and blessings in advance.
Co-organizers (2)
Tracy McMahon Kenyon
Organizer
Arlington, TX
Sterling Kenyon
Co-organizer