Meet Kaylee

Kaylee, now 15, had always been a healthy, spunky girl with a passion for dance and theatre. In December 2019, a minor fall at school and more unexplained bruising led to concerns and a trip to the pediatrician. What seemed routine quickly became alarming when bloodwork revealed dangerously low platelets, prompting an urgent trip to St. Louis Children's Hospital. After extensive testing, WashU Medicine physicians diagnosed Kaylee with aplastic anemia, a rare condition where bone marrow fails to produce adequate blood cells. She spent 11 days in the hospital before beginning regular transfusions and medication at Siteman Kids at St. Louis Children's Hospital. However, by June 2022, her treatment was impacting her kidneys, and doctors determined a bone marrow transplant was necessary.

With no family match, hope rested on an international donor found through an extensive search process. In January 2023, after four rounds of chemotherapy, Kaylee underwent the transplant. Though the procedure went well, complications landed her in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). The journey was tough, but after 90 days, she reached a major milestone in recovery - Kaylee was fully engrafted, meaning her new cells were producing healthy blood cells. Now, Kaylee is gradually weaning off medication and growing stronger each day, visiting Siteman Kids monthly. She is in high school and looks forward to ringing the bell soon to signify the end of this chapter.

Because of You:

Kaylee's mom, Christy, is incredibly thankful for the care and support their family received during their hospital stays. Patients facing treatment at Siteman Kids at St. Louis Children's can be very isolating because of their compromised immune systems, and she is especially grateful for donor-funded programs that kept Kaylee motivated. Now, Kaylee is actively involved in the Teen Life Council at St. Louis Children's and is passionate about advocating for others facing similar challenges.