Our daughter, Kylee, is a 26-year-old woman just starting her life. Kylee is so full of light, and she has stayed so positive since the first diagnosis. For those who know Kylee, they can confirm how strong and stubborn she can be, and she will NOT go down without a fight. Here is how it all started:

In the beginning, mid-2023, I insisted Kylee see a dermatologist. Initially, a mole located on her left calf was removed and biopsied, with results indicating it was benign. A year later, a larger mole in the same area prompted a second opinion from a different dermatologist. This time, the biopsy revealed it was melanoma. The doctor found it odd that the initial results showed it as benign, prompting a review of the first biopsy which ultimately revealed it had been melanoma all along.

In the Spring of 2024, Kylee was diagnosis with stage 3 melanoma, located on her left calf and several lymph nodes, located in the groin area. The oncologist, hoping that it was caught early enough, started her on two rounds of immunotherapy. She was then able to undergo surgery to have the tumor and all infected lymph nodes removed. Post-surgery was a little difficult; with multiple lymph nodes removed in her groin area, along with a skin graft to replace the skin on the back of her calf. Through a difficult recovery, things were getting back to normal. By July of 2024, she was cancer-free, and she ended the year marrying the love of her life, Cordell.

Fast forward to May 29, 2025, during a 3-month checkup, the oncologist found an additional 8 lymph nodes in her abdomen, chest, and neck. Biopsy results confirmed the melanoma was back. She is now diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma. The oncologist then ordered a CT scan of her brain, and those results showed a 3mm tumor. Her oncologist said that she is unable to have surgery and therefore, will be given a more aggressive treatment regimen of immunotherapy than last year.

July 18th, 2025, with the results of her brain scan, revealed that the tumor had doubled in size, increasing from 3mm to 6mm. This could be indicative of either tumor growth or inflammation in the surrounding area. In hopes to determine the cause, an updated MRI will be needed after four weeks to see if the tumor had grown, and the outcome would determine if the neurologist would suggest radiation therapy to target the affected area.

In the next 2 weeks, Kylee got extremely sick and didn't feel like herself. Getting out of bed was a challenge, she only managed a couple of bites of food each day, resulting in a 20-pound weight loss. She informed her oncologist about the daily struggles, and they ordered a blood test. Kylee's results showed elevated liver enzymes, which is inflammation of the liver, and subsequently her cortisol levels were life threatening low. This, unfortunately, is one of the many known side effects. To address this, Kylee was prescribed medication for the inflammation of the liver and Hydrocortisone to take for the low cortisol. Due to the results of her blood test, the oncologist advised against her 3rd round of immunotherapy until her liver enzymes leveled out. The next day she had an appointment to meet with an endocrinologist. The following day, she was to meet with her endocrinologist to discuss the results of the prior day's blood work, but Kylee was unable to keep her medication down and the doctor advised that she go to the MD Anderson ER, where she was given medication and IV fluids and was released later that evening.

Kylee met with the endocrinologist the very next day and learned her body no longer produces adrenaline (another known side effect of her treatment) and was diagnosed with Adrenal Insufficiency, which is a life-threatening, and life-long condition. This was the reason she felt so ill; her body was going into an adrenal crisis. She will now have to take medication daily and if she comes down with a cold/flu, she must double her dosage to prevent her body from going into an adrenal crisis. She has to wear a medical bracelet and keep injectable medication on her at all times in case of emergency.

Monday, August 11th, Kylee went to the ER at MD Anderson because she was having trouble smiling. They performed CT of her head, neck and abdomen, along with an MRI of the brain to rule out a tumor as the cause. Thankfully, it was not the tumor (which had actually decreased in size, from 6mm to 3mm). She also had a spinal MRI to examine her nervous system. After reviewing the results, Kylee was diagnosed with Bell's palsy, which caused paralysis on the left side of her face.

Mid September of 2025 Kylee completed scans, and the oncologist confirmed that her condition remains stable. The tumors have shown minimal change, with some exhibiting slight growth or shrinkage. While this outcome is not ideal, her doctor had hoped for more significant progress. The immunotherapy treatment has not been effective as anticipated. Kylee and her family are now considering alternative options, with a preference for T cell therapy, currently in clinical trials. If selected, she would have a 50% chance of participating and would undergo four rounds of chemotherapy to weaken the immune system. Therefore her T cells would be harvested, expanded in a laboratory, and reinfused into the body to target cancer cells. If not selected, Kylee's oncologist would recommend an alternative immunotherapy treatment. (November 2025 Kylee was not picked to be in the trial.)

In October 2025, Kylee experienced severe pain in her left side and went to the hospital. Scans revealed that the pain was caused by a tumor pressing against her nerves as it was dying. The rest of her tumors remained stable. Around the same time, a brain scan showed slight growth from 3.3 mm to 3.5 mm. However, by December 2025, her scans brought encouraging news: her largest tumor had shrunk from 7.5 mm to 5.5 mm, and the others had also decreased significantly. The brain tumor showed slight reduction as well.

Because of this, she has been unable to work. Some of her medical expenses are not covered along with some everyday necessities of life, money is getting tighter and tighter.

Now, it's time that we send some of that love and support to Kylee. We are asking that If you can, please donate to her cause, any amount will truly be appreciated. We also ask that if you are unable to donate, (which we would completely understand), that you continue to pray for her and Cordell as they continue to battle cancer and test their faith.

We ask that you continue to help and surround her with love, faith and support, as this is the most important thing needed so they can focus on beating this thing. Please spread the word. Share on your social media.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

#fuckcancer #cancersucks