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Learn More »In October 2007, four-year-old Kara told Bonnie, "Mom, I need to go to the eye doctor.”
When asked why, she replied "because my eye is crossing.” Since big brother Sean had just been to the eye doctor for his glasses, and Kara had had a normal vision exam at her pediatrician earlier that year, we were a little skeptical. Over the next few days, she kept asking Mom if the eye doctor appointment was set. Yes, the exam is Oct 24th we told her.
About a week before the exam, we started to notice her right eye drifting inward when she looked at us, especially from a distance. Considering that both Bonnie and Sean had a form of "lazy eye,” we were resigned to the fact that Kara was sharing this trait. She showed no other signs of a problem other than vision complaints.
After the eye exam on October 24th, the doctor sat Bonnie down and told her she saw swelling in the back of Kara's eyes and that she should take her to the ER to be examined. A CT scan that night confirmed our fears that our precious Kara had a tumor in the back of her brain near the top of her spinal cord. The MRI the next day told us it was approximately 4 cm and blocking spinal fluid from travelling to her spine. Surgery for the removal of the tumor took place on October 26th.
The surgery was successful in that it appeared to have removed the entire tumor. A pathology report confirmed medulloblastoma, a malignancy that requires aggressive follow up radiation and chemotherapy.
Kara underwent 6 weeks of proton radiation therapy at Mass General in Boston, followed by 9 rounds of chemotherapy at AI duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, DE. She completed her treatments in December of 2008, and thankfully, her follow up MRIs have all contained the three letters every cancer patient and their family pray for: "NED" or No Evidence of Disease.
The road has not been easy for Kara, and she still has some physical limitations, but she has an amazingly positive attitude that continues to inspire those who know her. This week (6/11/09) she "graduated" from kindergarten with her original class.
Her story is here: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/karakelly
She continues to inspire us. We are honored to be a part of Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation and other similar organizations that are helping to find a much-needed cure for childhood cancer.
Written by Larry Kelly, Kara’s Dad
06/09
When asked why, she replied "because my eye is crossing.” Since big brother Sean had just been to the eye doctor for his glasses, and Kara had had a normal vision exam at her pediatrician earlier that year, we were a little skeptical. Over the next few days, she kept asking Mom if the eye doctor appointment was set. Yes, the exam is Oct 24th we told her.
About a week before the exam, we started to notice her right eye drifting inward when she looked at us, especially from a distance. Considering that both Bonnie and Sean had a form of "lazy eye,” we were resigned to the fact that Kara was sharing this trait. She showed no other signs of a problem other than vision complaints.
After the eye exam on October 24th, the doctor sat Bonnie down and told her she saw swelling in the back of Kara's eyes and that she should take her to the ER to be examined. A CT scan that night confirmed our fears that our precious Kara had a tumor in the back of her brain near the top of her spinal cord. The MRI the next day told us it was approximately 4 cm and blocking spinal fluid from travelling to her spine. Surgery for the removal of the tumor took place on October 26th.
The surgery was successful in that it appeared to have removed the entire tumor. A pathology report confirmed medulloblastoma, a malignancy that requires aggressive follow up radiation and chemotherapy.
Kara underwent 6 weeks of proton radiation therapy at Mass General in Boston, followed by 9 rounds of chemotherapy at AI duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, DE. She completed her treatments in December of 2008, and thankfully, her follow up MRIs have all contained the three letters every cancer patient and their family pray for: "NED" or No Evidence of Disease.
The road has not been easy for Kara, and she still has some physical limitations, but she has an amazingly positive attitude that continues to inspire those who know her. This week (6/11/09) she "graduated" from kindergarten with her original class.
Her story is here: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/karakelly
She continues to inspire us. We are honored to be a part of Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation and other similar organizations that are helping to find a much-needed cure for childhood cancer.
Written by Larry Kelly, Kara’s Dad
06/09
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