Kate Returns to Gymnastics After Losing Her Leg to Childhood Cancer
When Kate lost her left leg to childhood cancer, she wondered if her days as a gymnast were over. But even cancer couldn’t keep Kate from the sport she loves. Read the latest update on Kate here.
Kate regains her strength at a CrossFit gym in 2013, after her second bone marrow transplant for AML, a type of childhood cancer.
For that exercise, she grabs onto a pair of rings suspended from the ceiling at her local Illinois CrossFit gym and lifts herself into a pull-up position. Then she pushes herself up until her arms are straight. She’s also got a soft spot for handstand push-ups and for pull-ups, with a personal record of 30.
Usually she’ll wear her prosthetic leg when she’s working out. For certain exercises, she’ll take it off if it gets in the way.
Three years ago, the 15-year-old gymnast and CrossFitter was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.
Immunotherapy Patient Celebrates One Year of Remission
When a 23-year-old leukemia patient ran out of treatment options, she joined an immunotherapy clinical trial supported by the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. You can help fund the research that saved her life. Get involved.
Lynsie after undergoing the immunotherapy treatment that saved her life.
It was hardly the news the 23-year-old expected to hear after having spent so much of the last eight years fighting for her life.
Lynsie had been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL, when she was 15. She fought it into remission twice. But by the third time it came around, her doctors told her it had become resistant to chemotherapy.
The standard treatment for relapsed ALL involves a bone marrow transplant, but Lynsie would have to be in remission for them to do the transplant. It seemed her only option was to hope for a miracle.
That is, until her doctors told her about a new phase 1 immunotherapy clinical trial funded in part by the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.
From Relapse to Graduation: What a Difference Four Years Can Make
When 2012 Ambassador Sarah’s leukemia relapsed in 2010, she had to put her life on hold. She left college, underwent a stem cell transplant, and participated in a St. Baldrick’s-funded clinical trial that ultimately saved her life. Now in remission, she graduated college and is looking forward to starting her new job. Help find a cure for all kids with cancer — get involved.
It wasn’t until the week before, when I dug it out of my closet to iron it, that I realized the finish line I was about to cross. For that week, I got to see my cap and gown every day and reflect on everything that has happened, everything I’ve overcome, and everything that lay ahead.
Daniel’s Journey from Childhood Cancer to Medical School
Daniel was diagnosed with childhood cancer when he was 11. Now 25, he’s in medical school and he shaved his head for St. Baldrick’s in March to help fund children’s cancer research.
I loved the ball-handling that the coaches taught us. I loved the teamwork that went into winning games. I loved the feeling of making a shot into the basket. I loved the fact that I could outrun and out-maneuver the other payers because I was small and nimble.
But that January of 2001, I did not like the game one bit.
I was at tryouts for my middle school’s basketball team and of course I was so excited for the day to have finally come. But when the coaches started making everyone do drills, I had a very hard time keeping up with the other boys.
My chest was tight. I was wheezing and felt short of breath. I brushed it off to being a “coach potato” the entire summer, but it did not get any better over the course of the three days of tryouts.
This was the beginning of a journey I will never forget.
Ambassador Lauren Watches ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ Film [Q&A]
The film “The Fault in Our Stars,” adapted from author John Green’s novel about two teens with cancer, has been making waves in theaters. We checked in with Ambassador Lauren, 16, who was diagnosed with stage IV neuroblastoma at 14, to get her reactions to the movie.
Read 2013 Ambassador Emily’s reaction to the novel.
St. Baldrick’s Foundation Ambassador Lauren was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at age 14 and now has no evidence of disease.
Q: You recently saw “The Fault in Our Stars.” What were your thoughts about the film?
A: I really liked the movie and how it showed the good and bad sides of being a child with cancer. It showed what happens behind the scenes and the strong bond between cancer patients. Not just between Augustus and Hazel, but the relationships she forms with other characters. From my experience, bonds are formed that are inseparable even when you don’t get to know people for long.
Adjusting to a New Normal: I Survived Childhood Cancer Twice as a Teen
Kasie was diagnosed with childhood cancer not long after her 14th birthday. Now 22, she is a college graduate and recently volunteered at a summer camp for children and teens with cancer. You can help kids with cancer, too — get involved.
Kasie has been cancer free for 7 years.
And all the other symptoms like anxiety and chest pains were probably from the fact that my family was going through a hard time. We were recovering from losing everything we had in Texas due to a house fire. I was starting a new school five states away and it seemed as if we just couldn’t catch a break.
Or maybe all of these symptoms were just because I was at that age when you act out and your body changes. I was 12.
About six months later, I was playing with a friend in the backyard when I touched my neck, suddenly noticing that it was massive and swollen. We made a doctor appointment and right away they put me on medication for my thyroid.
The next couple months were filled with a series of tests and way too many doctor appointments. After a biopsy of my thyroid, the doctor told me the results were “suspicious.” My family and I had to make the huge decision of what to do next.
2013 Ambassador Emily Reacts to ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ Movie and Book [Q&A]
The much-anticipated movie “The Fault in Our Stars,” based on the bestselling young adult novel about two teens with cancer, hits theaters today. We checked in with 2013 Ambassador Emily, 18, who spent half of her high school years fighting childhood cancer, to gauge her reaction to the book and the film and how they relate to her own experience as a teen with cancer.
A Mother-Daughter Bond Transformed by Childhood Cancer
Help cure childhood cancer. Fund research.
Sharing the bond of mother and daughter is beyond words. Ours was forming even before her birth. From the first of her movements in utero, I had dreams for her future and our life together.
My First St. Baldrick’s Event as an Ambassador
Help cure childhood cancer. Get involved.
Lauren, 16, is one of five 2014 St. Baldrick’s Foundation Ambassadors.
Back in June of 2012, I was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma, a type of cancer in children. I can recall the thoughts that went through my mind about losing my hair. I was 14 at the time and my appearance was one of my top priorities.
But I quickly realized that my health was much more important than my looks. I had no choice but to advance through chemotherapy and radiation, resulting in my hair falling out.
On the other hand, the high school students at Olympic Heights — both males and females — made the decision to lose their hair. These students did not care what rude remarks strangers would make. They felt a strong desire to assist other innocent children, even though they may not have been impacted firsthand by cancer.
Five Years Cancer Free and Still Fighting
Patrick shares his thoughts on becoming a childhood cancer survivor.
Patrick with one of his nurses when he was being treated for pediatric cancer.
I was only able to be a normal 17-year-old boy for three days before I was forced into more responsibility than I ever could have imagined. On September 18, 2006, my life as a high school senior was no longer a priority. I had gone to sleep Sunday night and woke up a few hours later gasping for air.
A lady that would come to be the person that saved my life greeted me in the ER. Non-Hodgkin T cell lymphoma were the words I did not yet understand.
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