In Memory of McKenna

Hello family and friends,

When we decided to train for another Team In Training (TNT) event and fundraise for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) we sat down and thought about what motivates us to continue doing this. After all, we’ve done this all before – the training, the events, the fundraising – and we know none of it is easy. Why do it again? The answer is simple: because of a little girl named McKenna.

McKenna was diagnosed with Ki-1, Anaplastic Large T-Cell Lymphoma (ALCL), a rare form of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, when she was just 2 ½ years old. On McKenna’s Caring Bridge site Christa, her amazing mother, recently told the story of those first few days of McKenna’s diagnosis.

“On March 6th, our nightmare truly became a reality. I was in the hospital room with McKenna, who was sitting up in her bed watching TV. The phone rang at noon. Dr. Sexton said ‘Mrs. Johnson, are you there alone or is anybody with you?’ I explained that I was the only one there with McKenna. She said ‘You need to sit down for what I am about to tell you.’ I sat immediately, clutching the phone, tears already welling up in my eyes, face turned away from McKenna. She said, ‘McKenna has Lymphoma....it's cancer. I know of a great oncologist, whom I went to medical school with, and I have already referred McKenna to him. They are waiting for you at the St. Paul Children's Hospital. When you get there you need to park in the Red ramp and go straight to hospital admitting......’ I remember this phone call and the feelings I was going through as if it was just yesterday. However, my recollection of what I may have actually said is completely a blur. I just know she called, she told me, and before I was off the phone, the nurses were already in the room packing up our stuff for a quick transfer.”

For the next 7 ½ years McKenna bravely fought her cancer and after receiving her second bone marrow transplant from her sister Jadyn she contracted RSV and was readmitted to the hospital. On McKenna’s 10th birthday she could no longer breathe on her own and was intubated and put on an oscillator. Just a few weeks later, on her mother’s birthday, McKenna grew her angel wings.

We attended her funeral and even though we hardly knew this beautiful, strong little girl we were heartbroken. Never have the words to “Jesus Loves Me” touched us so deeply. We can’t even begin to understand what it must be like for a parent to lose a child. On the one-month anniversary of McKenna’s passing her mother wrote the following on the Caring Bridge site:

“McKenna - Happy 1-Month Anniversary of being cancer-free, of being free from tubes, doctors, needles, procedures, surgeries, hospital rooms, waiting rooms, cancer, RSV, vomiting, diarrhea, radiation, radiation burns, chemotherapy, IV poles, oxygen masks, ventilators and oscillators, blisters, blood and platelet transfusions, bloody noses, dialysis, catheters, eczema, allergies, swallowing dozens of pills each day, bruises, pain, sadness and fear. You truly are free and nobody deserved it more than you, sweet girl! McKenna Girl, Drama Queen, Princess, Boo Boo...we love you sweetie and we miss you so much! You will always be with us, in our hearts and on our minds, every single day for the rest of our lives. We look forward to the day when we'll be able to hug and kiss you again and pinch your cute little butt! You were a wonderful daughter and sister. You were always so spunky, feisty, sweet, loving, caring and funny! Thank you for blessing our family with 10 years of your beautiful spirit and for all that you have taught us along the way. We are ALL better people because you lived. You showed us what courage, strength, hope, love and faith are all about. You NEVER gave up. We will never forget..... Til we meet again sweet girl, keep singing with those angels.”

We are always inspired by the amazing spirit, determination and love for life that cancer patients have. They have every reason to be angry and bitter about their situation and yet they are the most courageous and loving people you will meet. And they are why we continue to do this, why we train, why we fundraise. McKenna may have lost her battle but we will do what we can to continue the fight for her.

If this letter and McKenna’s story motivate you to donate then we thank you. If they motivate you to volunteer with LLS or any other worthy cause then fantastic. If they inspire you to join TNT in the future then we can’t wait for you to join us. If they motivate you to step back and count your blessings then we're thankful. For us, McKenna’s story does all of the above.

For McKenna and all the others who have lost their battle and for the countless others who are fighting today we ask for your donation; not for us, but for them. If you have donated in the past please know that we thank you from the bottom of our hearts, and we thank you again for your time and your generosity.

Thank you,

Julie & Patrick

Links to McKenna's Caring bridge site and to our fundraising web sites are below and also on the right hand side of the page.

Julie's Fundraising Site
Patrick's Fundraising Site