Idaho/Montana

Meet our honored patients and learn more about how they inspire us. If you or someone you know would like to serve as an honored patient, please contact our chapter staff.

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. 
 

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.

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 who make life easier for us.

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.