Meet our honored patients and learn more about how they inspire us.
Jill Korn, Boise Idaho
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My name is Jill Korn. I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's
Disease the day after my 28th birthday in August
2003. Prior to my diagnosis I had been dealing with a
variety of strange symptoms including itchiness, back and
hip pain, raspy sounds in my chest, migraine headaches,
fatigue, night sweats, unexplained weight loss and finally
a lump in my neck. My cancer was diagnosed at stage
IVB, meaning that it had spread to lymph nodes throughout
my body and had metastasized into my bone.
I began chemotherapy in September of 2003 and had a series
of remissions, relapses, and treatments. By April 2005 that
familiar itchy feeling had returned. Scans revealed
that for a third time my cancer had returned. This
time the treatment was not so defined. My prognosis
was very poor and I had the choice of continuing with
chemotherapy for as long as it would work or getting a bone
marrow transplant with a donor. This option carried risk of
complications related to having a foreign immune
system. Though the risk was significant, this was my
one small chance at cure and I decided to take
it. While preparing for the transplant I developed
lumps on my head and began to have double vision. The
cancer had returned in my lymph nodes but had also invaded
my skull and spine. My doctors started me on
chemotherapy and radiation almost
immediately. Eventually we found that my brother
matched as a donor and we prepared for treatment in
Seattle. I was transplanted in November a year and one
day after my first transplant. I spent five months in
Seattle getting treatment and recovering from the
transplant. I returned to Boise at the end of February
2006. To date I seem to be cancer-free, a record nine
months.
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Kaden Pate, Nampa
Idaho
Kaden Pate was born
December 12, 2003. He was diagnosed with
Acute Lymphocytic
Leukemia on June 9, 2006. He was 2 ½ years old.
Kaden has a great sense
of humor, he likes to laugh a lot and have fun. He likes to ride
4-wheelers, throw rocks in the river, visit the zoo, have picnics
in the park, and hang out with his family.
He also likes to watch
movies and read books. Kaden's favorite characters are Little Einstein,
Mickey Mouse, and Super Why. Kaden's favorite foods are pizza and chicken
with ketchup. He also loves milk. Kaden will be in treatment for leukemia
until the Fall of 2009. That's 3 ½ YEARS of treatment.
You can follow Kaden's journey at
www.kadenpate.com
McKynna Luper, Boise Idaho
McKynna Deann Luper was born on July 22, 2003 at St. Luke's hospital in
Boise Idaho. She has two older brothers, Dakota Alan age 8 and Dylon
Jay age 7.
On June 06, 2006 at the age of 3, McKynna was diagnosed with Acute
Lymphoblastic Leukemia, also known as ALL. McKynna started her
treatment that day, and was in the hospital for 9 days the first
time. She is currently going through chemotherapy, and has to go to
the hospital and MSTI at least once a week. She will hopefully start
her maintenance treatment at the end of February. Maintenance
consists of daily, weekly and monthly chemo, and every 12 weeks she
receives a spinal tap. The spinal taps are done to make sure she does not
relapse in her Central Nervous System. The spinal fluid is taken out, and
replaced with chemotherapy. This will continue for two years.
McKynna is a beautiful and very smart little girl who loves to play and
have fun just like every 3 year old. Her favorite things to do are
crafts and dancing around the house. She likes being with her brothers
and doing the same things that they do.
You can check on McKynna by visiting
www.caringbridge.org/visit/mckynnaluper
Nick Betz, Boise
Idaho
Nick is a six year old
from Boise Idaho. Nicholas was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic
Leukemia on September 20, 2006. We are just in the beginning phase of
this very long treatment. Nick will start Delayed Intensification on
January 17. This phase of chemo is rather difficult. The
treatment is 6 weeks long. (Barring any troubles) Nick will take
multiple medications every day. We are very fortunate; Nick is a
tough kid with an amazing mind. He understands (as much as a four
year old can) about his disease and usually doesn?t fight too much about
taking meds and going to clinic. Nick has a big brother, Ted,
who is doing well with all of this. It is truly a difficult thing;
everyone in the family is affected in ways that are hard to explain.
We have a completely different life now and it will stay that way for a
very long time. The road is long, but Nick is a fighter and he will
never give up on this. We have a wonderful team of doctors and nurses
here??they make life easier for us.
You can follow Nick?s
treatment at:
www.caringbridge.org/visit/nicholasbetz
Scott Anderson, Boise, Idaho
On June 24, 2007 I was
diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. I was immediately admitted into the
oncology program at St. Alphonsus's under the care of Dr. Alice Forsythe.
Seventy seven percent of the cells in my blood were cancerous. After seven
rounds of chemotherapy, six rounds of full body irradiation and a stem cell
transplant there are no signs of cancer in my body.
Spending most of my career
as a smoke jumper and ski patroller, the adjustment to a comparatively
inactive and isolated life was a great challenge. Due to a compromised
immune system I needed to stay in St. Al?s hospital for four months. I kept
myself busy drawing, reading, listening to music and exercising.
I quickly realized the
importance of the patients role in cancer treatment. For me, it was
exercise and staying positive, no matter what! The staff at St. Al?s
provided me with a pedometer which allowed me to maintain walking goals; it
takes forty four laps on the oncology floor to complete one mile.
Mental fitness seemed dependant upon staying busy, productive and
surrounded by positive people throughout the treatment.
After four months at St.
Alphonsus's Hospital undergoing chemotherapy treatments, I was transferred
to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. My family (wife
Sandie & daughter Eva, 7) and I were there for over 4 months while I
underwent a stem cell transplant with my younger brother as the
donor.
I am now returning to my
normal activities skiing, hiking & running. In addition, I returned to
my job as a Wildland Firefighter Training Specialist.
Teigan Isakson, Great Falls, MT
Teigan Isakson was born on
March 6, 2002 in Great Falls, MT. He has a 12 year-old brother named
Triston and a 10 year-old sister named Taleigh.
On October 21, 2005 Teigan
was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He began maintenance in
November of 2006. Teigan travels back to Seattle every 12 weeks to receive
chemo in his spine and has monthly appointments in Great Falls where he
gets chemo in his port. In addition, he takes chemo and other medicines
daily. This will continue until his final appointment on February 13,
2009.
Teigan is a very active
little boy. He is enjoying kindergarten and socializing with kids his age.
Most of all, he is happy to be back home and living a fairly normal
life.
