|
Please help Save Me
| 
|
Keelin DePas
Birth date: 2-27-94
|
Parents: Paul & Brenda DePas (Divorced)
Favorite activities: Barbies, Recess, Playing w/friends, Coloring
Bright, energetic, smart, only child, girl of the year for Leukemia Society
Places Visited: Disneyland
Primary Caregiver: Laura Schmal
(other than her mother)
|
Diagnosed: 3-15-97
Disease: Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
Chemotherapy for 3 1/2 years
Out of remission: 2-1-2000
In remission as of: 4-5-2000
Out of remission: 7-21-2000
In Remission as of: 8-30-00
|
Keelin is once again in remission. Keelin's
Cord Blood transfusion has been schedule for Wednesday, September 13. (See update below).
Thanks to Bank One for setting up an account for donations. The family is very appreciative of the generosity of
Keelin's "friends and supporters".
Approximately $17,000 has been raised.
|
Keelin's Current Condition
Top
| |
09/11/00 Amazingly, the doctor have again been able to force Keelin's Leukemia back into remission.
She is now scheduled for a Cord Blood Transfusion on Wednesday, 9/13/00.
Keelin is currently on 8 different types of medication and undergoing Kimo to prepare her for the transfusion. She was moved to the
University Medical Center in Tucson on August 31, one day after a Spinal Tap showed that her Leukimia had gone back into remission.
| |
08/2/00 Keelin's Spinal Tap shows that her Leukemia has returned. Her Cord Blood Transfusion has been
cancelled. Her doctors are conferring to determine the next course of action.
| |
07/15/00 Keelin has a going away party scheduled for this weekend, Sunday, July 23, to allow all of
her friends to say goodbye and wish her well.
The following Thursday, July 27, Keelin will be traveling to Tucson where she will be given a
Cord Blood transfusion
Keelin has recently had some pain in her legs. The doctors believe that this is a reaction to her radiation
treatment, but they will perform a Spinal Tap to determine if her cancer has come back.
| |
6/7/00 Keelin is 8 days into a 13 day radiation treatment designed to destroy any cancer that could
be "hiding"
in her spine or cranial areas.
Keelin's umbilical cord blood transfusion is schedule within the next 30 days.
Keelin's mom, Brenda is
preparing to move to Tucson for the next 4 or 5 months. Once the transplant is completed, Keelin will have to remain
in the hospital at least 100 days.
On June 10, a Car Wash will be held at Indigo Springs to help raise funds.
| |
5/12/00 Additional testing has shown that there are two potential matches of cord blood. Keelin and one
of her parents will be moving to Tucson in the next few weeks.
Once in Tucson, Keelin will receive a series of radiation treatments designed to kill any cancer that may
be "hiding" in her spine or cranial areas. If the test continues to be positive, the bone marrow transplant
will follow.
The Make a Wish foundation has agreed to grant Keelin's wish to go on a Disney cruise. The family is planning
to enjoy
that trip after the bone marrow transplant is completed.
| |
4/18/00
Mr. & Mrs. DePas went to Tucson on Friday and met with a Bone Marrow Specialist. The Doctor in Tucson has
found a couple of possible cord blood donors that might be a match for Keelin. They are in the process of
the second round of testing.
"This is wonderful news for her, But I guess it is only about a 60% chance of a total cure",
said Laura Schmal, Keelin's caregiver.
This will also mean that Keelin and one of her parents will be in Tucson starting in July of this year for
about 100 days, putting a large financial burden on the family.
The school that Keelin was attending is having a fair on April 29th and the raffle money is being donated to
Keelin's fund at Bank One.
Keelin's dream tea party, this last weekend, was a big success. Robyn of Teddy Bears and Tea Party's did an
excellent job. She donated her time, all party supplies and the food. Keelin was just a little princess all dressed
up.
| |
4/5/00 Keelin's Leukemia is again in remission. The doctor indicate that there is no way to
know how long the remission will last. Keelin's white blood cells are still to low, causing the doctor to continue
to adjust her treatments and scheduled visit to the hospital for chemo therapy.
Keelin's birthday was February 28th, but due to her illness, she has been unable to celebrate it until now.
On April 15, "Teddy Bears and Tea Party" has graciously agreed to fulfill one of Keelin life long dreams
to have a Tea Party with her friends and family.
Plans continue to be formulated with the Make A Wish Foundation. Final details about Keelin's wish to go on
a Disney cruise should be available by the end of April.
|
3/29/00 Keelin's white blood cell count has stabilized at 1100 per million and her
platelet count has continued to rise. Keelin's Leukemia appears to be in remission.
She will continue to have chemo treatments; but for 3 days, every 3 weeks vs several times each week.
The doctors have also stopped the 3 times per week, radiation shots in her legs.
The "Make a Wish Foundation" has agreed to review Keelin's wish for a Disney cruise in Florida.
Now we need to find a donor. Watch for future donor drives.
| |
3/24/00 Keelin's white blood cell count has continued to drop and is now around 1100 per million but her
platelet count has started to rise, indicating that she is reacting positively to the radiation and steroid treatments she's receiving.
The doctors have decided that as of now, she can discontinue her radiation treatments. Keelin is thrilled that she
can forgo the painful leg shots she been receiving. Her next doctors appointment is March 27.
| |
3/16/00 Keelin's white blood cell count has continued to drop and is now below 1800 per million. (Should be over 21,000) She
is scheduled for a transfusion tomorrow to help her regain some strength.
| |
3/14/00 Keelin's condition continues to deteriorate. Her recent blood test at United Blood Services
indicates that her white blood cell count has dropped dangerously low. Unless her condition improves soon, she will have to be readmitted to Childrens Hospital.
|
Click here for information on the 7 steps to become a donor.
|
