Meet All-Star McKenna

“When I read Mitch’s letter I started bawling. That kid had such a big heart and he sees other families. He had to drain his bank account and then his parents delivered on their promise,” Meggi, All-star McKenna’s mom.

McKenna is two years old; in April 2024 she was diagnosed with Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer that forms in the lungs. She is going through a 36-week chemotherapy battle along with two surgeries.

It is not the first health challenge McKenna’s family has faced. Her dad Bryan is a traumatic brain injury survivor; he was hit by a drunk driver when he was 17. Her mom Meggi had a stroke when she was 28 years old after a hole in her heart went undiagnosed. McKenna’s big brother was born premature and spent 17 days in the NICU with low blood sugar.

Like many babies, McKenna had to receive ear tubes after suffering several ear infections. A week later, after she developed a fever, her bloodwork led her doctor to think that she might have Kawasaki disease, a heart condition that causes the immune system to attack blood vessels.

Meggi asked for bloodwork, and she was also sent for an X-ray, which showed a large mass in her right lung.

“There was a white, puffy mass which they said could be cancer,” Meggi said. “Then, when we were sent to the oncology floor, we knew it was probably cancer.”

Meggi and Bryan had to make some fast decisions, including where McKenna should be treated. Fortunately, the hospital best suited to treat her was only 45 minutes away and she was transferred there for immediate surgery.

Meggi said her daughter was discharged 17 days later, a day she described as the worst day of her life. On that day, she said McKenna’s cancer is rare and they were told it was the worst type. Tumor cells remained in her airways, veins, and lymph nodes post-surgery.

“We were trying to celebrate McKenna being at home, but I was paralyzed,” Meggi said. “I rocked my baby to sleep bawling. The next day was my son’s third birthday party.”

McKenna also had an ovary removed before chemo due to the harsh nature of the drugs. Her mother said preserving fertility isn’t something a person thinks about at 22 months old.

During that same surgery, McKenna had her port and catheter placed. The catheter leaked and had to be removed.

“It made my baby bleed and made me cry,” Meggi said.

Meggi took 12 weeks of Family Medical Leave Act and is now on caretaker leave, all unpaid. She said she’s thankful her employer allowed her to keep her health insurance.

Meggi said the unexpected hospital admissions are the most difficult.

“That’s when you are reminded that it’s all-consuming,” explained Meggi. “We just had our fourth unexpected admission. She had a 104.5F temperature and she was taken by ambulance to the clinic. I rode with her; it was 2:50 in the morning. This first one resulted in eight extra nights at the hospital, another time, it was seven nights.”

Meggi also finds it hard being a stay-at-home mom with one child who is sick and another who also needs attention and begs to stay home from school with her.

“My days are spent coaxing her to take her medication, changing beds when she throws up, and trying to give a little boy some love and affection,” she said. “I never mentally prepared myself for this.”

Meggi is now also facing foot surgery, which leaves her wondering how she will cope during her own recovery.

“My mom will be with me too, but only because she is having a hip replacement at the same time,” Meggi said.

Even though she’s undergoing cancer treatment, McKenna is much like most other small children. She loves puzzles, purses, book bags, and babies. “She’s also sweet and empathetic”, her mom said.

“She is very caring when she tends to me by getting me Band-Aids, ice, or my water bottle,” Meggi said. “She tells me, ‘don’t be scared, mom. There are no more bad guys.’ We have started the narrative that she has bad guys inside of her to help her and her brother understand cancer.”

In addition to the hectic care she provides at home, Meggi is frequently driving back and forth to the clinic, so she is always filling up her gas tank.

Her in-laws live across town so if she wants some childcare relief that means they have to spend even more money on gas. And Bryan’s office is almost one hour away.

“It’s starting to add up,” she said.

The family received assistance from Pinky Swear’s Orange Envelope Program, which includes a $200 gift card and letters of encouragement.

She said that when she read Mitch’s letter, she broke down in tears.

“That kid had such a big heart, and he saw other families,” Meggi said. “He had to drain his bank account and then his parents delivered on their promise. It was good to know the back story,” said Meggi.

They also received a mortgage payment from Pinky Swear’s All-Star Fund.

Meggi said some months she and Bryan were wondering how long they could stay in their home, but thanks to Pinky Swear some of their worries were relieved.

“It’s scary to think about not being in our home,” she said. “Our kids need stability. We are so grateful that people like Pinky Swear donor’s care.”