Support Kaylene Farrell's Recovery

Hi everyone, a little background.

On January 30th 2013, after weeks of random headaches, morning nausea and vomiting, my then 10-year-old daughter Kaylene Farrell was diagnosed with a Grade 1 Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma. Also known as JPA. Kaylene was in Edmonton for 2 weeks, including surgery and she soared. It was so much of a better outcome than we were intially told. We were then told that JPA tumours, once removed do not grow back.

Kaylene has had regular checkups, every 12 to 18 months since she was 10 years old. There has always been a 4mm module that was left behind. The doctors always told us that it was scar tissue.

In December of 2020 Kaylene had a MRI in Grande Prairie, as we couldn't go to Edmonton due to covid and even though she turned 18 the day before her MRI, Fort St. John did not do pediatric MRI's.

In January her neurosurgeon called stating that there was a "spot" that lit up on her MRI and he wanted her back in Edmonton in June. We made the trek to Edmonton and found out that Kaylene's tumour while much smaller than when she was 10, was back. She needed to removed again. Her doctor assured us that Covid wouldn't affect her due to the nature of her surgery - ha, boy was he wrong.

Finally a year later Kaylene got the call and June 10th the tumour who she has named "Henry" was removed.

Sadly, this time wasn't as flawless as the first. Kaylene is lucky to have the same surgeon as when she was 10 -- but this time there have been complications.

Kaylene is suffering from a cerebrospinal fluid leak (CSF) this is when the fluid surrounding your brain and spinal cord leaks out from where it's supposed to be. She has been in and out of the Fort St. John hospital, where a lumbar puncture was performed to relieve the pressure from her brain. This did not work.

Kaylene was then sent back to Edmonton late last week where on Friday 100ml of fluid was removed and a pressure bandage was placed on her head to help the leak. She spent most of the weekend in the ER in Edmonton as the swelling returned and another 150ml of fluid was drained.

Kaylene now has to stay in Edmonton for a minimum of 1 to 2 weeks as she may need another operation to fix the CSF leak.

Thankfully she has a fantastic support system from her boyfriend and his family, who are able to be there with her during this time.

I just wish I could trade places with her -- she's my baby.

Here is a youtube video I made of her journey years ago