FEDERAL WAY—
For most five-year-olds, their biggest worry is missing Dora the Explorer.Not Kaylier Bergen.
In February, Kaylie was diagnosed with diffuse pontine glioma, a malignant tumor on her brain stem.
"If you look at the median survival it's only about 11 months," says Dr. Jay Douglas with UW Medical Center. "The two year survival is probably less than 10%, so most kids don't survive this disease."
Up until now, Kaylie has been a perfectly healthy kid.
In February, she got a cold and her mom noticed her balance was off.
Then one day she saw Kaylie watching TV with one of her eyes closed.
She took Kaylie to the doctor, then to get an MRI. That's when doctors found the tumor.
Now Kaylie comes to UW Medical Center five days a week for radiation and chemo. Radiation has shrunk the tumor, but doctors say it will most likely come back.
"It's absolutely amazing how strong she is and how brave," says Kaylie's mom Christy. "It's a very hard place to be in when the doctors can't help you and the only thing you have is hope and faith to get you through each day. It's been our worst time in our lives and yet it's brought out the best in everyone else."
Amy Elias, Kaylie's kindergarten teacher donates her time once a week to come to the family's home and teach her sick student.
"I try to bring something uplifting every week and something to read and a little craft and spend some time with her. I look forward to it every week," says Elias.
Kaylie's mom is taking things day by day. She refuses to think her daughter can't beat this disease.
"There have been a couple times where we've been having such a good time that for a short while you forget we're going through this and Kaylie is this sick," Christy says, "it's a wonderful place to be."
The Rally Foundation's Seattle Rock 'n' Roll Marathon is coming up Saturday, June 26th.
Proceeds go to children's cancer research.
