MIRACLE MONDAYS – Kaitlyn Paslay

The story of Kaitlyn Paslay

Kaitlyn Paslay was diagnosed with Leukemia on January 22, 2009 when she was 11 years old. She hadn’t been sick but complained of some arm pain on a Thursday and on the following Monday her parents took her to the local family doctor who drew blood and found out by Wednesday that she needed to go to St John’s Children’s Hospital to see a Pediatric Oncologist as she had cancer.

“The first words out of her mouth were ‘So you’re saying I have cancer? Then get it out me of me’” said Kim Paslay, Kaitlyn’s Mom.

The Paslay’s world came crashing down. “We took Kaitlyn down to get the pic-line put in the next morning and replaced that with a port in her chest after 6 weeks,” said Kim. “She endured 2 ½ years of chemo. The first 6 months there were also numerous bone marrow biopsies to keep an eye on the cancer and shots of chemo to the leg bones to keep the cancer in check in the legs. She had lost so much weight and began throwing up blood that 3 months into treatment she had to have a feeding tube put in.”

Kaitlyn was a fighter and survived the ordeal, but it wouldn’t be without the help of St John’s Children’s Hospital. “It was our second home for a while. We will never forget them.”

Kaitlyn just graduated from Richland Community College with her Associates in Art and will start soon at Iowa State. She wants to design wedding and prom dresses.

“I can honestly say that if she puts her mind to something she does it. She is truly a miracle.”

Do you have a miracle child that was treated as HSHS St. John’s Children’s Hospital? Facebook message us or email dave.newton@hshs.org and tell us your story! #miraclemondays