A TRUE GIFT OF LOVE
http://www.greenwooddispatch.com/humanInterest.html
On June 21, 2007 Kaylee Marie Quijas, 15 years old, was diagnosed with Leukemia (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia). The news was delivered at University Hospital in Columbia, Mo. while the family was attending the State Baseball Tournament for the Lee's Summit Baseball Association. Kaylee's brother, Christian 11 years old, plays for the Red Sox an 11 & under AA baseball team.
Kaylee attends LS West High School and will be a sophomore this year. She is active in cheerleading and loves her school, cousins, and friends. Unfortunately Kaylee will be home schooled for most of the first semester because of her low immune system.
By: Erin Means Smiles, determination, love, and strength are a few of the words people use to describe Kaylee Marie Quijas. Kaylee, a 15 year old sophomore at Lee Summit West, was recently diagnosed with leukemia. Like many Americans, Kaylee is living strong to defeat the illness. The families’ gratitude and courage can be best expressed in the following segment with the Quijas family answered by Michael Quijas, Kaylee’s dad. Kaylee, as you will find, is a young lady who reminds everyone that, even at the lowest points in life, kindness, love and gratitude can always be given to those around us. The Dispatch would like to offer Kaylee our support and encouragement in her recovery.
Cancer is difficult, not only for the individual who has it, but the family as well. How are all of you (family) coping? Have you had a lot of support from friends, neighbors…?
On June 21, 2007 Kaylee Marie Quijas, 15 years old, was diagnosed with Leukemia (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia). The news was delivered at University Hospital in Columbia, Mo. while the family was attending the State Baseball Tournament for the Lee's Summit Baseball Association. Kaylee's brother, Christian 11 years old, plays for the Red Sox an 11 & under AA baseball team.
Kaylee attends LS West High School and will be a sophomore this year. She is active in cheerleading and loves her school, cousins, and friends. Unfortunately Kaylee will be home schooled for most of the first semester because of her low immune system.
By: Erin Means Smiles, determination, love, and strength are a few of the words people use to describe Kaylee Marie Quijas. Kaylee, a 15 year old sophomore at Lee Summit West, was recently diagnosed with leukemia. Like many Americans, Kaylee is living strong to defeat the illness. The families’ gratitude and courage can be best expressed in the following segment with the Quijas family answered by Michael Quijas, Kaylee’s dad. Kaylee, as you will find, is a young lady who reminds everyone that, even at the lowest points in life, kindness, love and gratitude can always be given to those around us. The Dispatch would like to offer Kaylee our support and encouragement in her recovery.
Cancer is difficult, not only for the individual who has it, but the family as well. How are all of you (family) coping? Have you had a lot of support from friends, neighbors…?
The adjustment takes some getting use to, that’s for sure. But we feel that we are starting to get into a routine. We know when she’s going to get sick from the chemo; we know when she starts to recover. We know our window of opportunity as far as the week goes if Kaylee is going to feel good enough to do this or that. The support is something else. When you’re on the receiving side of the giving, it is overwhelming. People come from everywhere to help. The neighbors, your friends, and strangers. Our McDonalds @ 150 & 291 showed up with gifts for Kaylee. It is that help that gets you through. Sometimes you feel that you’re the only one who has traveled this road. Then, out of the blue, someone shares their story and you realize you’re not the only family that has endured heartbreak. A lady at Children’s Mercy said that no matter how bad you think you have it, someone else is suffering a little more, or has a story worse than you. She was right. I’ve met parents on our floor at Mercy with stories that make you feel grateful for what you have.
The family recently held a fundraiser at the Jerry’s Bait Shop. Can you tell us how it went and a little about the number of people, the auction and if Kaylee was able to attend?
Kaylee had a benefit at Jerry’s on Aug. 27, 2007. We think the number was somewhere around 200-250 guests. Her auction was a success because of the generosity from the business community, the Royals, Chiefs, and Albert Pujols. The list is long, and I don’t want to forget anyone, but those are just a few of the donors. Kaylee did attend for about 2 hours. We were concerned about her immune system so she spent most of her time outside after making an appearance inside. We thank everyone for their prayers and generosity. I’d also ike to thank so many parents that showed up to the benefit and shared their story with me. Stories of survival, togetherness, and the fight. When something like this happens it is like a fraternity. You immediately connect when you’ve had to fight for a child, a loved one, or with death. I want to stay away from the death part but I had parents show up who had lost a child and those who fought and won. But the emotions are so connecting that I left there feeling a certain bond. This road has been traveled before and unfortunately it will be traveled again.
Is there anything people can do to help Kaylee through this difficult time? Kaylee is starting a website called http://www.randomthankyou.com/ , she wants people to thank people for nice things that happen throughout the day, week, or whenever. She feels grateful for the compassion the community has shown. Things like this seldom ever happen, or if they do, we don’t slow down to recognize it. The giving, kindness, and random acts of kindness often go unnoticed or without merit. We are going to make a project out of it. It will be her way of giving thanks, not just for herself, but for others who have received kind words, an open door, or a helping hand. We are looking for someone to help create this site for her so she can become the CEO of the Thank You Business. (I especially want to give her something to focus on besides this sickness.)
Donations: Union Bank c/o Kaylee Quijas, 3700 SW Cheddington Dr., Lee’s Summit, MO 64082 - Or any of the locations in KC.
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