Superintendent Dr. Vic Hartselle pulls Kayleigh McClendon in a wagon during the walk held for her at Crestline Elementary on Mon., May 16. | Randy Garrison

Praying and believing for a miracle

Randy Garrison

Hartselle Enquirer

Kayleigh McClendon turned seven years old last Fri., May 13. Instead of celebrating at school with her friends, she was at St. Jude’s in Memphis. Kayleigh was undergoing a high-definition MRI to confirm the diagnosis her family received earlier in the week. Kayleigh has a high grade Diffused Intrinsic Potine Glioma (DIPG). This type of tumor is diffused throughout Kayleigh’s brain stem and woven throughout the nerves.

While there is not a known cure, the family has been told this type of tumor does respond well to radiation. If all goes well, Kayleigh will begin treatments next week at St. Jude’s. Hopefully, the radiation will shrink the tumor and relieve some of the symptoms Kayleigh is now having.

This journey began for Kayleigh a couple of weeks ago when she began having headaches. Since it was allergy season, it seemed this might be a result. Her parents noticed that her right eye had begun to droop and she was taken to her pediatrician on May 6. She underwent a sinus x-ray, which showed a sinus infection.

They went home with medications and told to come back the next week. However, her headaches returned. She also began vomiting. She returned to her pediatrician the next Tuesday and was scheduled for an MRI. The family was told if there was something serious, they would be called that night.

They received a phone call that evening requesting they be in the doctor’s office the next morning.

At the pediatrician’s office, they learned Kayleigh had a large turmor on her brain stem. They were referred to the St. Jude’s Huntsville location, met with them, and were sent on to Memphis.

Thursday of last week the family met with the staff at St. Jude’s and were given the report on the MRI. It was here the news was received that the tumor was inoperable and many of the options available were not proven. Radiation was given as the best way to shrink the tumor and then chemo to try and get rid of the tumor. Much of the treatment after radiation is still experimental.

The family is asking all to lift Kayleigh up in prayer, they are praying and asking all to pray for a miracle for Kaleigh. They are asking for prayer chains to be lifted up, her story to be told and that she be covered in prayer.

From friends, family, baseball/softball teams and Crestline Elementary, where Kayleigh is in first grade, all are working hard to show their support for this young child.

On Mon., May 16, Crestline held a walk for Kayleigh. The children, teachers, staff, family, friends and supporters from the community were there to walk and show their support for Kayleigh. Many of the students at Crestline wrote notes to Kayleigh to have and to read when she travels to St. Jude’s.

Donations were also taken during the walk and at press time, $5,800 had been collected. The donations will be given to the family to help cover expenses as they travel to Memphis for treatments.

Kayleigh is the daughter of Tim and Carrow McClendon of Hartselle. She has a brother, Cole, who is in the second grade at Crestline and a sister, Grace, who in the fifth grade at Hartselle Intermediate School. Her grandparents are Bill and Beth Raab and Harold and Gloria McClendon and great-grandparents are George and Sylvia Nancarrow and Bill and Ann Rabb.

According to Beth Rabb, the family has been overwhelmed by the generosity of the community. “It is great to live in a small town,” Rabb said.

According to her grandmother, Kayleigh wanted to go to school today, but told her mom that if she got a headache could she come and get her. But she said you would need to write a note since you cannot call your parents to come and get you unless you are really sick.

Kayleigh knows she has a tumor in her head, but not all of the news.

“We are praying for a miracle,” Beth Rabb shared.

Crestline principal, Robin Varwig, says Kayleigh has been at Crestline since pre-k. She is a bubbly, vivacious little girl who is fun to be around. This walk today is to celebrate Kayleigh.

The family is praying and believing in a miracle for their little girl, knowing God will be glorified as they travel the road ahead.

A Go Fund Me account has been set up to help the family with expenses they will incur as they travel back and forth to Memphis as Kayleigh takes treatments.