Kay's Story...

While playing in a field hockey game on October 15, 2005 the headaches that Kaylyn
had been experiencing for the past week reached their peek.  Unable to continue the
game, we were off to the ER for a sure diagnosis of Migraines.   

“The emotional upheaval we experienced in the ER, blown away with the diagnosis of
Kaylyn’s Leukemia on Saturday afternoon remains surreal and difficult if not impossible
to put into words.  But in the moments that followed, God moved quickly and mightily to
confirm His complete sovereignty over the situation.  We hugged together in prayer,
acknowledging that our God is truly a sovereign God whose ways are perfect yet
unsearchable and beyond our understanding.  That we know God loves Kaylyn and this
family and that He will meet our every need to sustain us through Kaylyn’s battle with
Leukemia.” ~ Bill Warren – Caringbridge – “My Story"

Kay declared “No more crying!  It is what it is and we’ll do what we have to do! God
is in control.”  Following the diagnosis Kaylyn experienced her first hospitalization  
lasting 28 days, which included several surgeries, a bone marrow biopsy (the first of
many), chemotherapy and its numerous side effects,  the loss of 20 pounds and
cruelest of all; Kay lost all of her beautiful long brown hair.  

Kaylyn knew God had a plan for her life and she would continue to trust Him no
matter what happened.  Needless to say, we were very encouraged in early November
when she was discharged to home and told the initial induction round of
chemotherapy had dropped the leukemia count in her blood to zero.  Kay left the
hospital with a schedule for the following months to receive different
chemotherapies to maintain her preliminary remission that had been achieved.
All was well!

Kaylyn had just started her senior year of high school at Red Lion Christian
Academy when her Leukemia was diagnosed.  After that first admission she was
unable to complete the year attending classes, so a home study program was
developed by her teachers.  In between chemotherapy treatments she would study
and turn in the assignments when she was finally feeling up to it.  She was also
feeling well enough at times to attend sporting events, sing the opening number for
her school musical, Annie Warbucks, and even attend her senior trip to Orlando
accompanied by mom to monitor her medications and activities.  Yes, all was well!

Then the week we returned from Florida, Kay started having headaches again.  
After blood work and a bone marrow aspiration it was determined that Kaylyn had
relapsed and the Leukemia was back with a vengeance.  The chemotherapy regime
was changed to induce remission once again and the process for bone marrow or
stem cell transplant was implemented.   Because no one in our family was a match,
the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry was notified to find a compatible donor.   
Once again, Kay’s doctors had success inducing remission and she was able to attend
her senior prom and graduated with honors in June 2006 with her class.

By the end of June a donor had been found and we were off to Seattle, WA to the
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, where Kay was due to receive a lifesaving stem cell
transplant.  One week after arriving and with all the testing completed, we were told
Kaylyn had relapsed – the Leukemia was back – again.  

The doctors in Seattle tried for the next two months to get Kaylyn back into
remission advising that the chance of success at this point was only about 30%.  We
hadn't realized just how aggressive Kay’s leukemia was and that each time the
cancer returned it had mutated.  Therefore, the chemotherapy drug she had just
received would now be ineffective and a new protocol needed to be found.

"God's lamp shined on my head and I walked through darkness by his light."

Job 29:3

Dearest friends, our Kaylyn is not in remission. In fact the leukemia is growing stronger
everyday. The counts in her blood are very high but the infection in her blood seems to
be controlled for now. We have some hard decisions to pray about this evening and time
is of the essence. Please pray that God will lead us to His perfect will concerning Kay.

"Don't be sad, because the joy of the Lord will make you strong."

Nehemiah 8:10

Caringbridge journal entry -  FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 2006 07:35 PM, CDT


On August 28, 2006 we returned to Delaware to the care of Kay’s Hematologist.In
the seven months that followed many different protocols were tried, but all failed to
induce a complete remission.   They did however cause at one time or another liver
failure, serious blood infections, repeated fungal infections, dangerously low
hemoglobin and platelet counts, bells palsy, hand and foot syndrome and pain that is
really indescribable.  But there was more that Kay endured during the treatment of
her cancer.

“. . . over the course of 17 months, she had a total of four Hickman Catheters, which
were inserted into her chest with a tube that ran to her heart.  She had, at one time or
another, a femoral catheter in her groin, a jugular catheter in her neck, two separate picc
lines, one in each upper arm, and countless peripheral IV’s, so she could receive
chemotherapy, blood products and a multitude of IV fluids.  As infections would arise,
one catheter was replaced by another, over and over again.
Kay also had a lumbar port in her side with a tube running under the skin to her back
and into her spinal column.  When that was removed due to complications, they inserted
an Omaya reservoir in her skull with a tube that ran into the ventricular
spaces of her brain in order to access the spinal fluid and also receive chemotherapy."  

 Laurie Warren – Kaylyn’s Memorial Service 3-24-07
                                             
Kaylyn almost made it to transplant three times, but it was not to be.  So when we
were told that the leukemia was taking over faster than could be controlled and
there were no more options, Kaylyn made the decision to go home from the hospital
with hospice care.  It was March 8, 2007.  
                                                   
"We are taking Kaylyn home today where we will wait for Jesus to come and take her to
her real home in Heaven. There isn’t anything left for her to try that would do anything
except give her more pain. We have arranged for hospice with one of their nurses, Mary
Ellen, whom Kaylyn knows and loves. Her time will be short and Kay is so very tired and
weary. She is ready to see Jesus. She is not scared, just concerned about us – that is so
Kay!  We need nothing and ask for no visitors.  Our God has answered all of our prayers
in His mercy and grace. He has given Kaylyn a life so full and we are so privileged that
He chose to use her to further His kingdom. We praise the Lord for Kay and her life that
was devoted to Him. We love her with all of our hearts, and now she will see God! Please
pray for peace and rest for our precious child."

“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that He will stand upon the earth at
last. . . . I will see Him for myself. Yes, I will see Him with my own eyes.”

Job 19:25 & 27
Caringbridge journal entry - THURSDAY, MARCH 08, 2007 12:49 PM, CST


"Jesus came at 1:00 am this morning to take Kaylyn home. She is now at peace and
dancing with the angels, no more chemo, no more IV’s, no more pain, no more cancer.
She has been restored! Praise God!
Although our hearts are breaking, we can’t help but rejoice because now she is with her
Savior. Kaylyn fought so very hard, especially in the past month and now she has won
the fight for all eternity. Cancer didn’t beat Kaylyn – God beat the cancer! We believe
that life on this earth is only a preparation for eternity. Kaylyn prepared well. Her crown
will be heavy with jewels and the heavenly choir will now have a special voice. Our hearts
will forever beat together as we wait to join her in paradise. Thank you Jesus for
entrusting this precious child to us."

“There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven.

A time to be born and a time to die. . .God has made everything beautiful for its own time.

He has planted eternity in the human heart. .”

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, 11
Caringbridge journal entry -  TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 2007 03:16 AM, CDT





“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,

plans to prosper you and not to harm you plans for a

future and a hope."

Jeremiah 29:11


"But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives"

Job 19:25



"Do not grieve, for the Joy of the Lord is your strength."  

Nehemiah 8:10



"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Philippans 4:13

"Homesick" sung by Kerri Cheadle and Amy Beattie

at Kaylyn's Memorial Service ~ 3.24.2007