Kallie was diagnosed with diffuse midline astrocytoma/glioblastoma in June 2021. She had cold-like symptoms the week before and then had what we thought was a stomach bug over the weekend. She was very weak, lethargic, and vomiting. When she wasn’t fully recovered by Monday we went to our local ER and was Kallie was diagnosed with mono and received fluids. By the afternoon, she hadn’t perked up and they sent us to CHNOLA to be further examined. Once there, they performed a CT and found the mass.
She had a partial tumor resection in June which gave us the official diagnosis, completed 33 sessions of radiation, and had 45 nights of chemo. We have an MRI this Friday and then will start maintenance chemo. I (mom) am an RN and had to give up my full-time position to be available for treatments and appointments and to be her primary caregiver. It is also hard on her almost 2-year-old sister that understands Kallie goes to the doctor but hates having to be separated from us when we have to go.
Kallie has always been a bright light and very happy girl. She has always had a heart for making people feel good and making them smile. Even through this journey, if you ask how she feels she tells you “happy” every single time and tells you “great” with a big ole thumbs up if you ask her how she’s doing.
Hope session by Kaela Rodehorst Photography | Facebook | Instagram