Help Mckenna fight TCF3-HLF B-Cell Leukemia

Dear friends, family, and any other kindhearted souls that may come across this,

I am posting this on behalf of my family and sister whose lives both changed drastically in the short time of 2 days. I wanted to start off by introducing us. Originally, we were sending go fund me to people we know but it has gotten bigger and thought for those that don't really know us we would like you to know who we are. Ryan and Leighann, met in 2012. Leighann has 2 kids and Ryan has 5. Ages range from 16, (McKenna) to 30. In this time the family has grown, and they now have 2 daughter in laws and three grandchildren. We are a family who came together but you would never know that we haven't spent our whole lives together with how strong we are and how much we support each other. 

 Now meet Mckenna whose life got flipped upside down on her sweet 16. For a few weeks Mckenna started having nose bleeds. We didn’t think much of it until she had 18 nosebleeds in 2 days. She was taken into urgent care where they did some tests and told us that we needed to take her to the Children’s Hospital immediately because they suspected that she could have Blood cancer. On the morning of August 3, 2023 (which was her Birthday) she was officially diagnosed with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. On august 5th, she was given her first round of intensive Chemotherapy. Since that day with further study, we have learned that Mckenna’s cancer is rare. This is due to rare translocation or combination of Chromosome 17 and 19. Less then 1% have this type of Cancer and prognosis is poor. After Phase one of Chemo, Mckenna is MRD positive which means minimal residual disease. The percentage is too low to have CART T treatment here, which would be the best treatment for her type. 

There are treatments called blinatumomab with a bone marrow transplant. Most patients were in remission last follow up. More time is needed to know how well this works and patient numbers are small. We are waiting to see if this procedure would be approved as it’s not a given she could receive it due to the cost. 

Countless hours have been spent reading and trying to find patient outcomes and the treatments they have used. The best scenarios have been from patients who have received the CART T treatment in the States. 

We have started this Go Fund Me to first help with unforeseen costs throughout the treatments. Mckenna at times is unable to get out of bed for days. The Chemo is taking a huge toll on her. Someone needs to be always with her right now. And although they are scrambling to make it work, there will be lost wages or home care. And generally, just to ease some of the pressure and allow the family to spend our focus on Mckenna. 

Our second goal is to raise enough money so that the option to get treatment in the states is something we could afford. Treatment for this is $1MM. If they continue only Chemo as a treatment plan, Mckenna will likely not have long. There are a few unknowns as to what will be approved for her, as here everything is based on percentages and if the percentages don’t hit that mark it doesn’t get done. If it is not working here and procedures are not offered, we will seek help elsewhere. We will not just hope for the best if there is something out there that could prolong this so that she will graduate, drive her first car, get married. Whatever it is she desires. At 16 all of these dreams should never have been taken.

 In the end, if treatment is not done in the states, or there is no more treatment, we will be donating anything not used for the care of Kenna to the study of this cancer and to Alberta Childrens Hospital in hopes that not many more parents have to go through this. Your donations will be used to help others going through this. 

 Thank you for taking the time to read this, Mckenna & the Craft family.