Kyler’s ride
Donation protected
For five years, Ryan and Kelly Drenning of Fort Wayne, IN have watched their son Kyler struggle with tectal plate glioma (brain tumor) and the associated effects of surgeries and chemotherapy.
“There have been so many times I wish I could be the one to suffer and not him,” his father said. “It’s the worst thing in the world to have a sick child and know there is nothing you can do to make it better.”
The brain tumor first surfaced when Kyler was 4. He is now 9 and has undergone three surgeries and rigorous chemotherapy. He suffers from frequent headaches, the chemotherapy sapped his strength, and one surgery left him temporarily unable to see, walk or talk. Even with those medical interventions, the tumor tripled in size and has now wrapped itself around his brain stem.
Like any parents, the Drennings want to see their son – their only child – beat the tumor so he can do the things other children do. And for Kyler, that includes playing soccer. His 39-year-old parents especially hope for the best for Kyler because he’s such a brave and friendly soul.
“He’s happy, he loves everybody, he’s very outgoing, eager to learn, and he makes me a better person,” his father said. “He fills my life with something I was missing.”
The Drennings are pretty self-sufficient folks. He works as a welder. She is a support professional with an organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. But the medical bills have become unmanageable even with insurance, all of the bills are now in collection, and the parents are about to face even more expenses. They are on a waiting list to get Kyler into St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN., where he will undergo 30 rounds of targeted radiation over six weeks. Both parents want to be with Kyler in Memphis, but they will need to take leave from their jobs and they have exhausted their paid FMLA benefits. One bright note is that Ryan’s work colleagues have donated five weeks of vacation time.
The Drennings have made it this far with the support of a "fantastic network of family and friends." As the next chapter of treatment begins for Kyler, every little bit will help.
“There have been so many times I wish I could be the one to suffer and not him,” his father said. “It’s the worst thing in the world to have a sick child and know there is nothing you can do to make it better.”
The brain tumor first surfaced when Kyler was 4. He is now 9 and has undergone three surgeries and rigorous chemotherapy. He suffers from frequent headaches, the chemotherapy sapped his strength, and one surgery left him temporarily unable to see, walk or talk. Even with those medical interventions, the tumor tripled in size and has now wrapped itself around his brain stem.
Like any parents, the Drennings want to see their son – their only child – beat the tumor so he can do the things other children do. And for Kyler, that includes playing soccer. His 39-year-old parents especially hope for the best for Kyler because he’s such a brave and friendly soul.
“He’s happy, he loves everybody, he’s very outgoing, eager to learn, and he makes me a better person,” his father said. “He fills my life with something I was missing.”
The Drennings are pretty self-sufficient folks. He works as a welder. She is a support professional with an organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. But the medical bills have become unmanageable even with insurance, all of the bills are now in collection, and the parents are about to face even more expenses. They are on a waiting list to get Kyler into St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN., where he will undergo 30 rounds of targeted radiation over six weeks. Both parents want to be with Kyler in Memphis, but they will need to take leave from their jobs and they have exhausted their paid FMLA benefits. One bright note is that Ryan’s work colleagues have donated five weeks of vacation time.
The Drennings have made it this far with the support of a "fantastic network of family and friends." As the next chapter of treatment begins for Kyler, every little bit will help.
Organizer and beneficiary
Sue Christman
Organizer
Fort Wayne, IN
Kelly Drenning
Beneficiary
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