Inspirational Stories

My daughter Kayli is a remarkable 22-year-old, six-time cancer survivor of leukemia who is currently undergoing treatment for a relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that has been recurrent in her central nervous system (CNS) since she was 8 years old. We are hopeful that the upcoming bone marrow transplant will provide a much-needed, life-saving cure for Kayli.

I am an RN and a single mother of five daughters and one son. My only son, Kayli's brother, Markai, is a full match and will be her bone marrow donor. He just graduated high school in May.

Kayli has been through a plethora of treatments over the years starting in 2009 at 8 years old at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in Florida.

She was one of the first children there to receive CAR T when it first became approved for pediatric use. Unfortunately, leukemia has been resistant in Kayli's CNS with no other evidence of disease in her marrow and no peripheral blast. She's a very unique case, and doctors are astounded by her. Kayli's most recent treatment prior to this relapse in January was at UF Health in Jacksonville in which she received targeted cranial spinal proton radiation.

Currently, Kayli is being treated at Moffitt Cancer Center with intrathecal and systemic chemotherapy. Once her CNS is clear of leukemia, Kayli will undergo a bone marrow transplant in what doctors describe as her last salvage treatment option. We are hopeful for a cure.

Kayli is an incredible person who has endured more as a child than most people will ever endure in a lifetime. She is a warrior and my hero. She has always been driven, even in the face of adversity. She exhibited this by graduating high school on time and walking with her class even after being in and out of the hospital, having homebound education, and going through treatments for nearly her entire childhood. And that same year, she graduated as a full specialist esthetician from Aveda Institute. She is such a bright light in this world, always an optimist, inspiring others with her kindness and compassion. She's such a sweet person who is beautiful inside and out. One of the things that she and I communicate to others is that there is JOY in the JOurneY and to never ever give up.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has been a very resourceful and informative organization that has certainly been a blessing to us throughout this 14-year journey.