Kayla’s Story

It was October of 2002 when Kayla’s world was turned upside down after being diagnosed with type-four colon cancer. At the age of 19, Kayla grew up very quickly as she began her battle with this very difficult disease. After a few surgeries, and lengthy radiation and chemotherapy treatments, Kayla was given a clean bill of health along with a new outlook on life. She continued with school and in December of 2005 completed her B.S. in Nutrition, with a minor in Gerontology. Kayla excelled in school and wanted to continue her education. Her goal is to obtain a Master’s Degree in Public Health. While applying to several schools and waiting for acceptance she worked a part time job at the University of Nevada as well as an additional part time job at Washoe Medical Center in the nutrition department. The call finally came and she was accepted to UCLA to begin school in the fall of 2006. This was very exciting news for Kayla since she would be able to realize her dream of becoming a licensed Dietitian.

On Saturday, July 22, 2006, Kayla’s life took another turn. While working a shift at Washoe Medical Center she began to lose fine motor function in her left hand. Her left hand then clinched shut and could not be opened. Kayla passed out and began having a seizure. After spending time in the emergency room Kayla was admitted to the hospital. Numerous tests, CT scans and MRI’s were done to find out what caused the seizure. The Neurosurgeon met with Kayla and informed her that there was a tumor on the right side of her brain. The tumor caused swelling which resulted in Kayla’s seizure. On Thursday, July 27, 2006 Kayla went in to surgery. The surgeon’s tried to remove as much of the tumor as they could, but due the lack sophisticated equipment as well as the very sensitive location of the tumor, they were not able to remove it all.

Kayla will need further treatment and possibly additional operations which can not be done in the state of Nevada. Since Kayla was a student and only worked part time jobs, she is left to fight this battle without insurance. Additionally, she will not be able to work as she receives treatment, leaving her without any income. Kayla is a bright young lady with a bright future ahead of her. Please help Kayla get the care she needs by making a contribution to the trust that was set up on her behalf.