🐢 Update from DAD (Free) - 7/14/2026

Kyla Update 7/14/26 

Sorry for the delay with Kyla’s most recent update. These past 2 months have been a lot…

Kyla is continuing to progress with her chemotherapy protocol. Giving a status update is always difficult because there’s the protocol that’s set to a “T”, but then there’s the reality of going through the phases that includes some heavy side effects and long delays.

In a nutshell, she’s basically at the end of month 3 out of 30. It somehow feels like it’s gone by very fast and slow at the same time, but that’s where she is big picture. The first 9 months are made up of 28 day chemo cycles that wipe out every leukemia cell possible, but unfortunately, also wipe out healthy white blood cells. No white blood cells, no immune system. Towards the end of these 28 day cycles is when she’s most vulnerable due to the amount of chemo accumulated throughout the phase.

Some phases are intense and bring a lot of heavy side effects. Some phases (we hope) are supposed to be more forgiving. Unfortunately for Kyla, these past 2 phases have landed her in the hospital.

Both times were due to a fever, a major red flag that calls for an immediate hospital stay.

Last month, she spent 16 days in the hospital, the toughest 16 days any kid should ever have to go through. We won’t go into too many details, but between trying to figure out the source of the fever, then having to battle neurological side effects of chemo, our 14-year-old baby was fighting 2 wars with hardly any soldiers.

But she prevailed. She recovered and was even able to attend her 8th grade promotion ceremony. She walked the stage, received her certificate, and got to spend a little time with some of her closest friends and family for a brief moment. A few days later, she was able to spend part of the afternoon with her Enspire volleyball teammates eating frozen yogurt outside.

They were a much needed good couple of days to remember what it’s like to be a 14-year-old kid again.

That said, we did mention above that the past 2 phases have landed her in the pediatric unit, which is where we are currently. She was admitted on 7/10 and is still there today, 7/14. She hasn’t had a fever in 2 days, but her immune system is still too weak to be discharged. So until then, we’re hanging out at the hospital, watching movies, hanging out, and enjoying the view.

We know it’s been very long between updates. Please know that we are eternally grateful for all of the love and support you’ve shown. If you’ve donated, thank you so much. If you texted us, if you thought of her, if you said a prayer, if you sent us food, thank you so, so much.

Thank you to her medical team. There’s not much more you can ask for from medical professionals when they treat your daughter like their own family. Your warmth and compassion are essential tools in her healing, and can make her feel better in a way that the medicines you deliver can’t.

Thank you to the Betty Bears Soskin family for your support and understanding through the last few months of Kyla’s 8th grade year. Thank you for acknowledging her character as a person and student, and for accommodating her and the family at her 8th grade promotion. It was such a special occasion that we will forever be thankful she was able to participate in.

And thank you to all our family and friends. You continue to lift us up, make us laugh, and remind us of what life is really all about.

If there is any positive to take from this, it’s that there are some truly kind and compassionate people in the world.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for thinking of Kyla. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers as she continues through treatments.