|
Boy & Girl of the Year
Upstate NY/VT Chapter's Boy & Girl of the Year
The Boy & Girl of the Year are local children battling blood cancers who serve as motivation and inspiration to Man & Woman of the Year candidates in their competition to raise funds and win the titles.
Boy of the Year
Jacob Kaminski
Jacob began experiencing severe knee pains and high fevers after starting pre-kindergarten in September of 2003; a far cry from the happy, healthy little boy with endless energy his family once knew. His parents spent the next several months visiting numerous doctors and specialists who performed various tests and tried every medication, even those made especially for him. With no changes or diagnosis, it wasn?t long before Jacob could no longer walk and his rashes and fevers continued while his blood work continued to reveal nothing. Just before Memorial Day in 2004, when Jacob went to his pediatrician with a fever of 104, blood work revealed serious abnormalities in his white cell counts. His family raced to a waiting oncologist at Westchester Medical Center where blood tests, a spinal tap and a bone marrow biopsy revealed that Jacob had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The day after his diagnosis, Jacob had a port-a-cath surgically inserted into his chest, followed by his first dose of chemotherapy. A week later, the Kaminskis returned to the area and Jacob was admitted to Albany Medical Center to continue his chemotherapy and treatment. For the next three and a half years, his family watched and waited as he underwent over thirty spinal taps and received countless medications. The hospital became their home away from home. In 2007, Jacob entered the second grade cancer free where he had perfect attendance and started on the road to a normal life with his family. Unfortunately, the next year brought the flu, pneumonia and muscle pains, resulting in a month long absence from school. At his regular appointments, his oncologist was watching his cell counts and one week after his ninth birthday, Jacob needed another bone marrow biopsy and spinal tap; the next day, the Kaminskis learned that the leukemia was back and they returned to their life in the cancer world. Since his relapse, Jacob has spent every weekend as an inpatient and missed over half the school year to undergo week long chemotherapy, as well as blood and platelet transfusions. Due to his allergic reaction to the main chemotherapy drug, they have altered the standard plan of care. Jacob and his family are uncertain where the road ahead will lead them, but they go forward month by month with the treatment plan and pray for the best.
Girl of the Year
Kassidy Krenzer
Kassidy was about to begin first grade when her parents, Phillip and Christine, found out that she had been diagnosed with a blood cancer. On July 18, 2004, the six year old was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, starting down a long road of hospital visits and treatments. After two and a half years of countless doctor visits, long stays in the hospital and dose after dose of medications and chemotherapy, the Krenzers finally believed their daughter had finished her treatment. At a routine check-up six months later, the family received the devastating news that her leukemia had relapsed. Kassidy?s best chance of survival was a bone marrow transplant, meaning more harsh chemotherapy and the search for a compatible donor. After months of searching, a match was found and Kassidy and Christine traveled to Rochester for the transplant. In the months that the mother and daughter were at the hospital, Phillip remained at home with the couple?s two sons. Visiting as often as they could, the stretch of time was incredibly frightening for the entire family who didn?t know what to expect, knowing there was always a chance of rejection during the transplant. Kassidy survived the transplant, but suffered numerous complications, including problems with graft-versus-host disease, being in and out of the PICU with congestive heart failure, having two pericardial windows put in and having fluid drained from her heart and lungs. Also put on a very high dose of prednisone, she was very sick. Thankful for every day, the family considers Kassidy a living miracle, having been off treatment since her transplant on September 20, 2007; she will continue to be followed by her doctor here and in Rochester. Kassidy is very excited to be able to start middle school in the fall. The Krenzer?s were blessed to have such an amazing medical team working together, both in the capital region and in Rochester. They are also thankful to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for the many tools which were available to help through these very challenging times.
