Togetherness Trot, Kaylee Strong 5K Walk & Run

Kaylee Strong is Raising Awareness for Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women, accounting for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. A woman’s risk of getting ovarian cancer during her lifetime is about 1 in 78.  It is one of the most challenging diseases known to medicine and often goes undetected until it has spread within the pelvis and abdomen.  Early detection is difficult because symptoms can be mild and vague and could apply to a variety of conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome or ovarian cysts.  4 in 5 Women will be misdiagnosed & 1 in 4 Women will wait over 6 months to get a correct diagnosis.  Advanced-stage ovarian cancer may cause few and nonspecific symptoms that are often mistaken for more common benign conditions.

The most typical ovarian cancer symptoms include:
• Increase in tummy size
• Bloating
•Abdominal/back/pelvic pain
•Needing to urinate more often or urgently
•Bowel changes
•Fatigue

More research is needed to find better ways to identify ovarian cancer and to treat it more successfully.  Therefor our Kaylee Strong 5K proceeds will Benefit Ovarcome, an Ovarian Cancer Foundation.  Their Mission is “to raise global awareness, to fund research in search of a cure, and to provide financial support to underserved women in the U.S. as well as developing nations in their valiant fight against ovarian cancer”  Our Goal is to bring awareness, educate others about the symptoms and help Ovarcome with their mission.

Who is Kaylee

Kaylee is a beautiful, smart, spunky, and STRONG 9-year-old girl who was diagnosed with stage IIIA2 Ovarian Cancer. She underwent surgery at Texas Children’s Hospital to remove a 10cm Germ Cell Tumor.  Surgery was a success, but the cancer had spread requiring her to complete 4 rounds of chemotherapy, each round consisting of 1 week in the hospital and 2 weeks home to recover.

Kaylee was not able to finish out the school year, but that has not gotten her down.   Kaylee’s motto is “When life hits you, track the weather”!   She absolutely LOVES the Weather Channel, and her role models are Meteorologists – Travis Herzog, Ginger Zee & Jim Cantore.  Some of her favorite shows include Weather Gone Viral, Tornado Alley, So You Think You’d Survive, Secrets of the Earth, Top 10, and on and on.  Watch Kaylee on ABC-13 here::  https://abc13.com/health/fort-bend-county-girl-diagnosed-with-stage-iii-ovarian-cancer/5266024/

https://abc13.com/health/9-year-old-cancer-fighter-appears-on-gma-in-houston/5387014/

She greatly enjoys going to school – Science and Writing are her favorite subjects. Kaylee is a Figure Skater with Texas Gulf Coast Figure Skating Club and an active Girl Scout.  She enjoys playing with her friends, roller blading, painting, writing, playing on her Nintendo Switch, listening to music, especially the band BTS.  Pusheen the CAT is also a favorite of hers.

Kaylee has fought Cancer like a Champ and bringing awareness about Ovarian Cancer while doing so.  She is a true inspiration, and her parents are very proud of her.  They are #KayleeStrong

You can watch her interview with Fox 26 here:  http://www.fox26houston.com/home/houston-area-9-year-old-battles-stage-4-ovarian-cancer