Haylee's Story

We recently chatted with the Werth family about their cancer journey. Read this story to learn about Haylee’s diagnosis and treatment and resources that helped them along the way.

Meet the Werth Family
 
Kayla and her husband have two daughters, Haylee and Nora. Haylee is six years old and has Leukemia. Nora is two years old. Kayla sells insurance but is taking a break to help with Haylee. Her husband is working and also going to school. Haylee is a six-year-old with a great attitude, a positive family, and an amazing support system. She is excited about her new swingset her dad is setting up for her and can’t wait  for the weather to warm up to use it!

About Haylee’s Diagnosis and Cancer Journey
 
On October 19th, 2020, Haylee woke up in the night with terrible leg pain, and she is not one to complain. Kayla thought it was growing pains, but she called their pediatrician, and they said to go to the ER to get it checked out. She thought it was silly to go to the ER at the time.
 
Kayla, Haylee, and Nora went to Saint Elizabeth Medical Center, and when they got there, blood work was done immediately. The doctors then urgently sent them to Children’s in Omaha for a bone marrow biopsy. Kayla’s husband was out of town at the time. She called him, explaining he needs to come home right away.

The family was at the Children’s hospital for 14 days doing tests. Kaylee and her husband don’t have a family history of cancer, so it was a shock when Haylee was diagnosed with Leukemia. They didn’t think it would happen to them. When tests came back, the family was told Haylee has Leukemia. The doctors told them they caught it early.

What is treatment like?
 
When Haylee was put on steroids for a week and then off for a week, it caused eating throughout the night, mood swings, and “puffy cheeks.'' These are hard side effects to deal with when you are six years old. Haylee was a great sport saying, “Look at my puffy cheeks!” when side effects began.
 
After 30 days of treatment, Haylee was in remission. Now she is in the maintenance phase, which includes going to Children’s Hospital in Omaha every 10 days for eight weeks for treatment. After that schedule it moves  to 4 days in, 4 days out. Anytime Haylee has a fever, they have to go to the doctor to have a port inserted immediately because of her compromised immune system.
 
Haylee will be considered cured by 2023.
 
How the Werth family heard about HCF

Kayla’s parents have attended HCF events before. Kayla and her family even attended this year's Virtual Mardi Gras Gala via YouTube!

How HCF Helped

Kayla says, “It’s such a relief to have payments taken care of so I can focus on Haylee.” “I don’t know how I would do it without being with her right now.”
 
The Importance of Support

Kaylee relies on her family's support while their daughter is battling cancer. Their extended family lives in Lincoln and just outside of Lincoln. Kayla says, “...amazing support system. I don’t know how you would do it without.” She then says, “It is no good to worry about the future” as she explains how they are handling their day-to-day life.