Kaylee, an active and vibrant eight-year-old who loves dancing, began to limp during the middle of May 2023. Doctors initially believed it was just a pulled muscle and suggested ice packs. However, after a fall in June 2023 led to a broken leg, an MRI revealed something far more serious. Kaylee was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer.
From the moment Kaylee was diagnosed, her parents assured her that she would never walk through her journey alone, and that she will always have an army of supporters beside her, especially at Tackle Kids Cancer (TKC).
Kaylee underwent surgery and spent 10 weeks in traction while receiving chemotherapy. Throughout her hospital stay, her mom, Justina, never left her side, often sleeping hand-in-hand with her daughter. Kaylee’s mantra was, “Stay Strong. Have Faith and Hope.”
Despite these significant emotional and physical challenges, Kaylee’s resilience faced another hurdle. She required a rotationplasty, a surgical procedure that removes a portion of a limb and reattaches the remaining part in a different way, and would need to learn how to walk with a prosthetic.
Music therapy with a child life specialist played a crucial role in Kaylee’s emotional recovery, especially during the time when she was bedridden. Unable to dance herself, Kaylee would dance her dolls around instead. “Liz brought so much joy to Kaylee,” her mom shared. “She loves being on stage singing and dancing.”
In June 2024, Kaylee was back on stage proudly dancing in her fourth grade talent show with her prosthetic.
Justina recalls Kaylee’s progress with pride, sharing how Kaylee has mastered climbing stairs again and transitioned from a walker to crutches, then to one crutch, and eventually to a walking stick. “It was very emotional, but I was thrilled to see her progress,” her mom said. “She worked really well with the prosthetic; it became a part of her.”
The care Kaylee received at Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center was nothing short of extraordinary. Her nurses provided incredible support, even being there when Kaylee took her first steps. They knew her likes and dislikes, often surprising her with her favorite treats, like cake pops from Starbucks. Jessica, her Child Life Specialist, was a constant source of comfort, helping Kaylee acclimate and finding her an American Girl Doll with a prosthetic to help her feel understood and less alone.
Katharine Offer, M.D., and Valdis Lelkes, M.D., Kaylee’s physicians, were beyond compassionate, always explaining procedures in ways the family could comprehend. Kaylee’s night nurse reassured her when she feared a shot by sharing her own experience with cancer as a child.
Tackle Kids Cancer was a blessing to the entire family, providing not only grocery and Target gift cards but also cherished memories from events, including an unforgettable night at MetLife Stadium with the New York Giants.
“Having a child with cancer can be costly,” Justina noted. “Tackle Kids Cancer helped our family immensely. That’s why we’re raising money as part of TKC’s Eli’s Challenge. If we can help another family going through what we did, then it’s worth it.”
Thanks to the incredible medical care, and the love and support of her family, Kaylee continues to dance through life, proving that even in the face of cancer, faith and hope will get you through.
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