Kyla's Fight With Leukemia
Donation protected
The Yorkeys need our help!
On December 8th the Yorkey family's whole life was turned upside down. Shelby brought 2 1/2 year old Kyla in to the doctor for what she thought was just a cold. Kyla had a bad cough and fever, and started to look really pale with low energy. At first the doctor thought the same thing, but at the last minute she decided to do a quick blood draw since Kyla was so pale. After the draw the doctor came back and told Shelby that Kyla's red blood count was extremely low (below blood transfusion level, which it NOT GOOD!). Because Leukemia was the first thing that came to the doctor's mind, Kyla was rushed to UC Davis Children's Hospital that night.
Once she arrived at UC Davis, Kyla received 3 blood transfusions and had bone marrow drawn to determine if she actually did have Leukemia. The tests confirmed that it was in fact "ALL" (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) and they began treatment. She underwent surgery and a port was inserted in to her chest where she now receives blood transfusions, chemo, and has blood drawn. Since then she has also undergone LP (Lumbar Puncture) procedures to test her spinal fluid and to begin chemo through her central nervous system.
Kyla just began phase 1 of her 2 1/2 year chemo treatment plan, and is currently required to stay in, or within blocks of the hospital in case of any complications. Her parents, Scott and Shelby, have had to rent a home near the hospital and Scott is communting to and from work, several hours away. Kyla is unable to have visitors because her immune system is so compromised, and she will be receiving weekly chemo treatments for the next several months. She is not permitted by her doctors to return home for the forseeable future, so this is going to be a very long road for her and her family. It is devastating to see such a bright and cheerful little girl dealing with an illness that she doesn't understand.
Though there is no way to estimate the extent of Kyla's medical expenses, as you can imagine, they are going to be immense. The average cost of childhood "ALL" treatment alone can range from $55,000-$160,000 according to the US National Library of Medicine article found here. From hospital stays, to procedures and tests, to a rental home near the hospital, this is going to be a hardship no parent can ever plan for.
Shelby and I have been friends for 20 years. Seeing her and her family going through this hardship has been incredibly difficult, and has inspired me to do whatever I can for them. Any amount of help is greatly appreciated, as our goal is to take some of the burden off of the family so they can focus their energy on helping Kyla fight this huge battle.
I will make sure to update this campaign as I receive current information from Shelby so we can all stand with Kyla and keep her #KylaStrong
Thank you from the depths of my soul. You have no idea how much your help will mean to me and to the Yorkeys!
Sincerely,
Kali Smith
If you would like to contact me directly regarding other ways to help, feel free to email me at the email address provided above.
On December 8th the Yorkey family's whole life was turned upside down. Shelby brought 2 1/2 year old Kyla in to the doctor for what she thought was just a cold. Kyla had a bad cough and fever, and started to look really pale with low energy. At first the doctor thought the same thing, but at the last minute she decided to do a quick blood draw since Kyla was so pale. After the draw the doctor came back and told Shelby that Kyla's red blood count was extremely low (below blood transfusion level, which it NOT GOOD!). Because Leukemia was the first thing that came to the doctor's mind, Kyla was rushed to UC Davis Children's Hospital that night.
Once she arrived at UC Davis, Kyla received 3 blood transfusions and had bone marrow drawn to determine if she actually did have Leukemia. The tests confirmed that it was in fact "ALL" (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) and they began treatment. She underwent surgery and a port was inserted in to her chest where she now receives blood transfusions, chemo, and has blood drawn. Since then she has also undergone LP (Lumbar Puncture) procedures to test her spinal fluid and to begin chemo through her central nervous system.
Kyla just began phase 1 of her 2 1/2 year chemo treatment plan, and is currently required to stay in, or within blocks of the hospital in case of any complications. Her parents, Scott and Shelby, have had to rent a home near the hospital and Scott is communting to and from work, several hours away. Kyla is unable to have visitors because her immune system is so compromised, and she will be receiving weekly chemo treatments for the next several months. She is not permitted by her doctors to return home for the forseeable future, so this is going to be a very long road for her and her family. It is devastating to see such a bright and cheerful little girl dealing with an illness that she doesn't understand.
Though there is no way to estimate the extent of Kyla's medical expenses, as you can imagine, they are going to be immense. The average cost of childhood "ALL" treatment alone can range from $55,000-$160,000 according to the US National Library of Medicine article found here. From hospital stays, to procedures and tests, to a rental home near the hospital, this is going to be a hardship no parent can ever plan for.
Shelby and I have been friends for 20 years. Seeing her and her family going through this hardship has been incredibly difficult, and has inspired me to do whatever I can for them. Any amount of help is greatly appreciated, as our goal is to take some of the burden off of the family so they can focus their energy on helping Kyla fight this huge battle.
I will make sure to update this campaign as I receive current information from Shelby so we can all stand with Kyla and keep her #KylaStrong
Thank you from the depths of my soul. You have no idea how much your help will mean to me and to the Yorkeys!
Sincerely,
Kali Smith
If you would like to contact me directly regarding other ways to help, feel free to email me at the email address provided above.
Organizer and beneficiary
Kali Smith
Organizer
Reno, NV
Shelby Yorkey
Beneficiary
