Meet ASK Kid Kyleigh

Meet ASK Kid Kyleigh!

At just 9 years old, she's got a big, fun life! Imagine this: she's got a whole crew at home with two brothers, a sister with one more sister on the way. When she's not hanging out with them, you can probably find her dominating the soccer field, zipping around on four-wheelers and dirt bikes, or getting super creative with art projects.

With such a vibrant personality and spirit, you would never guess that Kyleigh faced a serious health challenge. Life took an unexpected turn for Kyleigh when her mom, Kelsey, noticed a bump on her left arm during the family's Memorial Day trip to the pool when she was just six. Kyleigh told her mom she thought she had hurt it a few days before on the trampoline, prompting the family to go to urgent care. Urgent care initially suspected a fracture, but a subsequent examination by an orthopedic specialist resulted in the family going to VCU Massey Cancer Center, where they uncovered a more serious issue: a Rhabdomyosarcoma tumor.

Kyleigh's mom, Kelsey, knew that Kyleigh had several unexplained fevers and everyday bumps and bruises from jumping on her trampoline but never suspected childhood cancer. "After the biopsy and diagnosis, we thought she would need her arm amputated. However, surgeons decided to see how the tumor responded to radiation and chemo.  Sure enough, the tumor began to shrink, but amputation was still recommended long-term," explained Kelsey.

After the initial shock of her diagnosis, Kyleigh's family began searching for the best path forward. They knew they had to act quickly and do everything possible to protect her future.

"I felt like we needed to do all we could to save her arm, so we got a second opinion at the Cleveland Clinic. There, we received more bad news. Kyleigh now had cancer spots in her lungs. We immediately started new chemo and radiation treatments for her lungs. We were devastated," shared Kelsey with a heavy heart as she remembered the day the family received the news.

From the early days of Kyleigh's diagnosis, ASK became an integral part of her and her family's journey and was there to lend a helping hand during difficult times. "I had to quit my job to manage Kyleigh's healthcare, so ASK's financial assistance was a lifesaver," remembers Kelsey.

“I was pregnant and felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders. Grocery and gas gift cards were just the beginning, and the bill assistance ASK provided relieved some of the financial stress of childhood cancer.”

 - Kelsey, ASK Kid Kyleigh's Mom

In addition to providing financial support, ASK stepped in to help ensure Kyleigh stayed on track in school. ASK's Education Support Navigator, Jon Longenecker, played an integral role in developing her homebound classes and the 504 plan so that Kyleigh would have the support she needed to be successful.

Jon is one of six Navigators stationed at each of Virginia's five pediatric cancer treatment centers. These dedicated professionals bridge the gap between hospital inpatient stays and patients' schools, helping them stay on grade level and receive the necessary accommodations to succeed.

Today, Kyleigh is thriving and loving life as a third grader. Her medical team keeps a close eye on her to make sure the tumor stays stable, and she's back to doing what she loves! She's even a bit of a local celebrity, having served as the 2023 Anthem Lemonade Ambassador and appearing in Anthem commercials!