Cancer Warrior Needs Water Filtration System

Hi, my name is Belinda and I am Kennedy’s great-aunt and guardian. In Feb 2022 my Mom and I got custody of 1 year old Kennedy and her 3 year old sister. A week later we found out Kennedy has stage 4 High Risk Neuroblastoma. Within 72 hours of her diagnosis a survivor flight from St Jude Children’s Research Hospital arrived to transport Kennedy to Memphis to begin life saving treatment. I went from working full time to part time to fly back and forth to Memphis every other week to help my Mom care for Kennedy; while also trying to split my time with her sister at home.

Since March 4, 2022 Kennedy has gone through radiation, chemotherapy, 2 bone marrow transplants, more radiation, & immunotherapy which was stopped early because of damage caused to her intestines due to radiation.

In April 2022 we were informed Kennedy is also ALK positive. What this means is there are lots of unknowns. The only thing we know for sure is that Kennedy will have to stay on oral chemo for the next 2-3 years. She will have to stay NED (no evidence of disease) for at least 8 more years to be considered having “beat” cancer.

The radiation damage collapsed Kennedy’s small intestines and on April 4, 2023 she underwent Gastrojejunostomy surgery. She also has gastroparesis; which will be a lifelong condition.

Due to the gastroparesis and continued vomiting a GJ tube was inserted into her stomach on June 6, 2023. All of Kennedy’s medications; including 20 doses of different medications to help “wake up” her stomach go through the jejunum. She has terrible swelling and occasionally has to be drained from the gastric section of the tube.

Because of the treatment Kennedy has received she is not allowed to drink well water. Now due to her GJ tube she cannot be cleaned with well water either. We have been purchasing distilled water but this is quite expensive.

In June of last year I took a sabbatical from work to be with Kennedy for her transplants. In January I returned to work part time but at the end of February when she began vomiting daily and we had to return back to Memphis for surgery and a 7 week hospital stay this left me off work even longer than expected.

I never imagined I would have to ask for help and I really don’t like that I have to, but I have depleted my savings and Mom is on a SSI fixed income. Unfortunately, we cannot afford the water filtration system for the house that Kennedy desperately needs.

If you would like to help us be able to get the water filtration system we would greatly appreciate it. Even if you are unable to donate we ask for prayers. Our sweet girl needs them more than ever.

Kennedy was named Sweet Kennedy because since she was born she has ALWAYS been the happiest, sweetest baby. Even when she has had horrible sores in her mouth and down her esophagus because of chemo she has smiled. Through all the vomiting she smiles. She truly is the bravest little warrior I know.

Never did I, at 45, or Mom, at 71, imagine our lives changing so drastically but God knew we needed these 2 amazing little girls as much as they needed us. We have been blessed beyond measure and even with all of Kennedy’s medical complications God has been so good to us. Kennedy is still here with us and makes us proud of how strong she is every day.

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