BEFORE THE DIAGNOSIS

Mid July

Kenna had a fever and lack of energy for several days. She was scheduled for a Volleyball camp at BYU and was worried that she was coming down with something and might not get to go. Then she started feeling better and they thought she could go.

July 12

So on July 12th she flew to Utah and Grandma Becky picked her up. She stayed the night there and the next morning drove up to Provo.

July 13

Before the camp started they had a preliminary check on all the girls. When they took Kenna’s temperature she had 102 degrees so they debated whether to let her participate. After resting on the side for a while she told them she felt better and they let her start playing. She played volleyball and participated in all the activities all week with lots of gusto.

End of July

The next week Kenna had a great time with Grandma Becky and felt pretty good all week.

Sunday, July 26

McKenna complained of pain in her writs so bad she couldn’t even use them.

Monday, July 27

She still had joint pain but still went roller skating.

Wednesday, July 29

Jen took McKenna to Jacob’s orthopedic doctor appointment. He said it isn’t uncommon after having flue-like symptoms to see a reaction of sore joints. He thought it might be arthritis and ordered some blood work to see what it showed.

Thursday, July 30

Jen took McKenna in for the blood work. By this time McKenna was limping she had so much pain in her ankles. She had no energy. Still that night she wanted to go to the Tomayo’s pool and swim.

Friday, July 31

The results were not in from her blood work yet.

Saturday, August 1

McKenna was miserable. She ran a fever and was in pain. That night Jason had tickets to an outdoor concert and she went. She stood a while but ended up laying on a blanket and looking very pale. They left early. Jason thought about talking to Jen about the kind of makeup base McKenna was using. He thought it was way to light and was making her look really pale. He didn’t realize it wasn’t makeup making her pale.

Sunday, August 2

McKenna went to church for all three hours, limping and pale. The home teachers came over that night and teased her about how pale she was. Maybe the vampire thing was going overboard.

Monday, August 3

Jen took her in and got to see the pediatrician, Dr. Pope. He called and got the information from the blood work taken by the orthopedic doctor. The tests showed a low white blood count.

Tuesday, August 4

Jen called Dr. Pope to tell him McKenna had a fever and he called down to Texas Children’s Hospital and got her a bed on the ninth floor with the Leukemia patients. That day she had her first blood transfusion. It was to strengthen her to get her ready for the bone marrow extraction. They also started her on antibiotics to fight the infection. Jen stayed with her all night.

Wednesday. August 5

When I walked in about noon on Wednesday I was shocked at how pale and almost yellowish McKenna looked. She looked so vulnerable laying there on her hospital bed. McKenna had the blood marrow taken that afternoon. They put her to sleep during the procedure. The last thing she said before blacking out was, “I think I’ll sing a song.” That afternoon the doctors confirmed their suspicions that they found 85% to 90% of the cells were leukemia cells in her bone marrow.