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Houston, TX. Team Draft helped our littlest fighter, Kyssi Andrews celebrate her 5th birthday with the Houston Texans. The Texans are no stranger to Lung Cancer. Jonathan Joseph, Cornerback for the Houston Texans, as well as his family is waging their own battle against the disease. Joseph’s father is currently battling lung cancer. Khyrstin (Kyssi) Andrews is a very cheerful and energetic [5] year old who resides in Houston, TX and was born on October 14, 2008. Khyrstin had NO prior symptoms or pain. She was going to daycare everyday, playing with her friends and being a perfectly normal 3 year old little girl (so we thought). On 5/1/2012 she started urinating blood. Her aunt and a very dear family friend rushed her to the emergency room where she was diagnosed with stage 2 phase 3 Wilm’s Tumor (kidney cancer) and then she was transferred immediately to another local hospital via ambulance for further diagnosis and treatment. Kyssi had 2 major surgeries on 5/4/2012. The 1st surgery was performed to remove her right kidney and the cantaloupe sized cancerous tumor and the 2nd surgery was given to place a portal catheter (port) above her heart in order for her to have her chemotherapy treatments, receive medications, blood and platelets when/if needed. Shortly after surgery was performed, she started a very aggressive/extensive radiation and chemotherapy treatment which consists of 4 different chemo drugs. She has had non-stop chemo treatments weekly since her treatments began in May. The last of her treatments were in November of 2012 and she was considered in remission on November 27, 2012 (such a GREAT day). On March 1, 2013, Kyssi went back to the hospital for what we though would’ve been only her 3 month checkup and scans, not knowing that we’d return home with our lives and hearts changed yet “AGAIN”. She was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer (in both lungs) and was given less than a 50% chance of survival. That was the “report of the doctors”….we’re waiting on the “report of the Lord”. Every since that day….life has been ever so different for us. She is now on totally different chemotherapy medications that are so much more stronger than before, and it keeps her a lot more sick. Kyssi has had multiple blood and platelet transfusions, MORE frequent hospital stays, constant abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, loss of sleep and also the loss of her hair for the 2nd time due to treatments. She’s definitely the toughest [5] year old kid that most people know. To read more about Kyssi’s story, and to show your support for her and her family, please visit her facebook page: |
Awareness • Early Detection • Treatment • Research • Survivorship