Warrior Princess

Born December 5, 2008, Kaylee was a happy and healthy baby who brought much joy to our family. We were shocked and devastated when at the age of two Kaylee was diagnosed with stage four high-risk neuroblastoma, a cancer that forms tumors in nerve cells. Kaylee immediately began treatment, undergoing surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, a stem cell transplant, and immunotherapy, but she never lost her joy. Our warrior princess remained a happy, fun-loving little girl. We were ecstatic when she went into remission and celebrated this triumph as a family; however, her cancer proved unrelenting, returning six times over the course of her short life despite our pursuit of every available cutting-edge treatment option. Sadly, our beautiful Kaylee passed away from cancer on August 17, 2020.

In her short time here on earth Kaylee never lost her joy and zest for life. Known for her fearless spirit, sense of adventure, and sweet personality, Kaylee captured the hearts of many—not only those who knew her, but also those who met her for the first time and those who never met her at all but followed her on Facebook and social media. An avid video-gamer and lover of playing soccer, going to the beach, swimming, snowboarding, skiing, camping, and all things outdoors, Kaylee never turned down the opportunity for adventure and always managed to have fun even when she wasn’t feeling her best. Her mental strength, faith, and ability to remain as active as she was in the face of her challenges astounded everyone, including her doctors. Kaylee was so special, we referred to her as our “one in a million.”

During those times when Kaylee was hospitalized and particularly in the final months of her life when she experienced a great deal of pain and lost the ability to walk, she found much joy in building Lego sets. They became a creative outlet for her, a much-needed distraction, and a source of pride whenever she completed an elaborate Lego model. Playing with Legos became therapeutic for our family as we would spend hours working together to complete a complex model. Legos taught us how to slow down, power down, and enjoy precious moments of togetherness. Kaylee loved Legos, and she loved spreading joy. Shortly after she gained her angel wings, our family was inspired to start Kaylee’s Legocy to collect new Legos for pediatric cancer patients to enjoy with their own families. As we embark on our mission to bring some joy to these children and their families, we know that Kaylee, our “one in a million,” is smiling down on us.