Shaving for a Lost Friend

When 15 year-old Kyle Stepp decided to shave his head for St. Baldrick’s this year, he knew exactly what it was going to be like to be bald.  Just last year, Kyle was bald but not as a result of shaving—he had lost his hair when he was being treated for osteosarcoma at the University of New Mexico Children’s Hospital. 

Although still in treatment until 2011, Kyle is now in remission after 18 rounds of chemotherapy, 6 surgeries including  a limb salvage -  which included the removal of a tumor and the replacement of 4 inches of his femur, knee, and 8 inches of the tibia with stainless steel. After his surgery he found out that it had killed 97% of his tumor. Kyle is still receiving a chemotherapy shot once a week.

"If it wasn't for an amazing General Practitioner, Dr. Edward Bocian Jr, they probably wouldn't have found my cancer so early,” Kyle said.  “Also, I probably wouldn't be celebrating my 16th Birthday on April 10th without my grandparents, Jackie Northcutt, the world’s most amazing doctors and nurses at the UNM Pediatric Oncology Clinic, Dr. Quinn at the UNM Cancer Center and the nurses on the Pediatric Specialty Care Unit and the Infusion Center!"

This year, Kyle will be going bald by choice in memory of Levi Chavez, who was not only a classmate of Kyle’s but also a fellow osteosarcoma patient at the hospital.  Sadly, Levi passed away on December 30, 2009 after bravely battling the disease for six months. 

Although Levi and Kyle were in the same class at school, they didn’t really get to know each other until March 30—the day of Levi’s diagnosis.  Kyle was at the hospital that same day for treatment and he sat with the Chavez family for three hours while they waited for the results of Levi’s scans.  He told him all the positive things about his treatment, like all of the wonderful people at the hospital and how he had made all of these great friends.  He even sat and talked with Levi’s father for another hour while Levi got his final scan that confirmed his diagnosis. 

For Kyle, this was a routine thing to do.  After his initial diagnosis, Kyle was fortunate to receive a great deal of support from those around him.  One of these people was Galtlin Clark, who was also being treated at the hospital.   

“Galtlin would come and sit with me while I was getting my chemo even though I didn’t feel well and he didn’t feel well,” Kyle said, “He didn’t have to do that but he did and it helped me realize I could help other kids as well.”

Kyle’s attitude seems pretty uncharacteristic for a 15-year-old but he credits his grandparents, a positive attitude, and faith in God for helping him pull through.  He has committed himself to helping other children like him and will not only be shaving his head at the 8th Annual Albuquerque Main Event UNM Children’s Hospital event on May 15 but he will also be serving as an emcee.  Kyle is also one of the 2010 Sunshine Kids National Spokeskids. 

As Kyle says, “When you get cancer you may think it is the end of the world but it’s not, it is the opportunity to change the world and the lives within it.”