Cranes for Kayla

This is Kayla, Susan's niece.

Kayla was diagnosed at the age of 15 in March 2006 with osteosarcoma, a cancer of the bone, in her right knee.

Kayla's doctors removed the cancerous bone in her knee in a limb-sparing surgery, but the cancer was persistent and on August 30, 2006 they had to amputate Kayla's right leg above the knee, performing a procedure called Van Nes Rotationplasty.

During her recovery from the amputation, Kayla developed an infection and had another surgery in September 2006 to remove infected bone and tissue.

After a lenghty recovery, Kayla resumed chemotherapy and was fitted with a prosthesis. In March 2007 her leg was declared cancer free.

Four months later, in July of last year, Make A Wish granted Kayla a special wish to travel to London to meet J.K. Rowling. Kayla was was privileged to attend a reading by J.K. Rowling of the first chapter of The Deathly Hallows in advance of its release.

Two months later, lesions were discovered on Kayla's lungs and last September she underwent yet another surgery to investigate the lung lesions, which were determined to be cancerous metastases of the osteosarcoma.

Chemotherapy isn't usually very effective against lung metastases, so Kaylas doctors decided to watch and wait to see if the lesions were growing. In December, just before Christmas, Kayla had another surgery to remove a new fast-growing lesion on her lung.

After the surgery, the doctors continued to monitor Kayla's lung lesions. In February, Kayla volunteered to have her head shaved for a fundraiser as part of a benefit for Kids With Cancer.

Most recently, Kayla had another CT scan which revealed that the cancer has returned again and started growing rapidly almost completely enveloping one lung.

Kayla tried to enroll in a chemotherapy trial but was turned down. They are now attempting to enroll her in another chemotherapy trial that has had success in slowing down the growth of the lung metastases of another girl.

Kayla needs our prayers. I will be participating in another crane project for Kayla.

Kayla's aunt Susan sent this email out last night:

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Dear Friends,

As many of you may be aware, my niece Kayla has been battling cancer for two years. It started in her knee as bone cancer. Her knee was removed and a limb salvage was done. She adjusted and adapted very well to using a prosthesis. She battled through surgeries and numerous rounds of Chemo. She was doing so well and getting back on with the life of a teenager. We were convinced that she had beaten this disease. But then a few months ago it returned again in her lungs. The doctors did surgeries to remove the lesions, but now they have taken over her left lung and have been deemed inoperable. Kayla has received the worst news possible that her time left is limited to possibly only a few months.

At times like this we can feel so helpless. I am offering you an opportunity to do something that will make you feel some hope.

I am asking for your help to fold Kayla 1000 paper cranes. If everyone I mail this to make a few, we can soon make a total of 1000 cranes. The idea is to say a prayer of a wish for Kayla with each crane you fold.

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If you are reading this and are interested in participating, please leave me a comment, enter your email address in the space provided in the comment box (your email address won't be published).

Below is a video by our friend Herman showing how to fold a paper crane:

A Blessed Easter to all...