Support McKenna's Battle with Rare Cancer

Support McKenna’s Fight Against Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma

On December 6th, McKenna went in for what was supposed to be a routine surgery to remove a suspected lipoma from her upper arm. However, during the procedure, her surgeon quickly realized that the mass was not a lipoma, but something much more concerning. The decision was made to wait for pathology results to understand what they were truly dealing with.

On December 13th, McKenna received the news: she had been diagnosed with alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS), a rare and aggressive cancer that is diagnosed in only 80 people annually in the United States.

Since her diagnosis, McKenna’s life has been a whirlwind of appointments and medical tests. She has seen a variety of specialists, including a medical oncologist, orthopedic oncologist, and radiation oncologist. She has undergone numerous MRIs and PET scans. Thankfully, her scans came back clean, but she still faces a long and uncertain road ahead—especially given the rarity of this tumor.

In addition to her ongoing treatments, McKenna is traveling to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston to seek a second opinion and establish care with additional specialists. Her treatment plan includes 5 weeks of daily radiation therapy, which will require regular travel to and from the University of Kansas for her treatments. This has meant significant time off work, mounting medical bills, and unexpected expenses, including copays for the numerous tests and appointments she’s had to attend.

As if this wasn’t enough, her doctors have also recommended that McKenna undergo egg retrieval and preservation, to give her and Nick the best chance at having a family in the future, either through carrying her own child or through the possibility of using a surrogate.

While we are incredibly grateful for the positive news so far, the journey ahead remains uncertain and will require continued support, both emotionally and financially. Many of you have reached out asking how you can help—thank you for your kindness. Any financial contribution, no matter the size, will make an immense difference in easing the burden of medical bills, travel costs, and lost wages during this difficult time.

If you are unable to donate, we kindly ask for your continued thoughts, prayers, and support for McKenna and her family as they navigate this challenging journey. Your encouragement and love mean the world to her.

Thank you for being a part of McKenna’s fight.