Khalill
Most people see Khalill as an outgoing 14 year old joker who wants to make people laugh and who has a positive attitude. What they probably don't know is that these exact traits are what have helped him and his family get through the last year. In January of 2010, Khalill began to develop lumps around his neck area and was being tested by doctors. One day, he awoke to find his neck very swollen and his dad drove him to the emergency room in Youngstown, Ohio. Doctors indicated that they thought it was lymphoma, and he was sent to Akron Children's Hospital for a biopsy. Although he felt like his normal usual self, Khalill was actually suffering from stage four Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Within the next week he was being treated in Youngstown with chemotherapy to try and fight the disease. Unfortunately, with time Khalill's body was not responding to the chemo. Doctors felt that next best step was a stem cell transplant. He underwent radiation in August 2010 and came to Akron Children's to begin the process.
During the whole process, Khalill's entire family had to deal a tremendous amount of doubt and questions about the disease - Why did it happen to him? Was this something that could have been prevented? Was this hereditary? Through all of the questions and tears, Khalill's mom Eva says it was his strong spirit that kept everyone going and helped them to see the positive. His attitude was that he would overcome the disease and there was no reason for the ladies to be worried. "Why are you crying? I am going to beat this," he told them. He carried this strong approach with him to the doctor's office, listening to everything Dr. Saleh at Akron Children's Hospital told them and taking it all in as the man of the family.
Khalill and his mom were at the Ronald McDonald House of Akron from August 24, 2010 to December, 14th! Eva says that the Ronald McDonald House of Akron has tried as much as possible to make them feel comfortable and to cope with everything by lending an open ear and open arms. "What they provide is tremendously beautiful," she says. The process takes so long and the House was there to provide them a place to stay and focus on the treatment. Eva does not have a car and to be able to go back and forth between Youngstown and Akron everyday would have been very difficult. Every appointment counts and Khalill cannot miss even one. "No mother wants to be away from their child," she says and the House helps keep them together.
Khalill's positive attitude has paid off and he has no active cancer! Doctors continue to finish the healing process, conducting radiation and checking his body with scans to make sure his cancer has not returned. While he is still on the bone marrow list, everyone is hopeful this will not be needed. Khalill continues to have a good attitude and will return to a normal teenage life. He has been able to keep up with his school work through a tutor at the House (and physical therapy as gym!) and will be able to complete 9th grade and move on to the 10th! He has even enjoyed typical adolescent things about his experience including the nurses and everyone who has helped him and the food at House - spaghetti being his favorite. We are so happy to hear all of the good news and to have been able to provide a home away from home for Khalill and his mom!
