Keegan was barely a year old when her mom, Casey, knew that something wasn't quite right. She would wake up in the middle of the night screaming in pain.
Casey would ask her what was wrong, and all Keegan could do was pat her leg.
Keegan prior to treatment
Six months and 18 doctors visits later, Keegan received a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common childhood cancer.
In that moment, Casey just had one question for the doctor: "Is this cancer curable, and is she going to survive?"
Keegan was referred to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
Families, like Keegan's, never receive a bill from St. Jude for anything.
Keegan with her brother
After she arrived, St. Jude doctors started her on a protocol that would last two-and-a-half years.
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In the first few weeks of her treatment, Keegan was weak and tired most of the time.
It's awful to see a child go through it.
Keegan with her mom at St. Jude in 2019.
As Casey watched her daughter experience that pain, there wasn't much hope to be found, but being at St. Jude changed things for her.
"St. Jude was my foundation for knowing that Keegan was going to be ok," said Casey.
It would become a second home for Keegan and her family.
When they would return for treatment, Keegan would exclaim "There’s my hospital," upon seeing St. Jude as they would be pulling off the interstate.
Keegan and her mom at St. Jude Walk/Run in 2019.
Keegan would go on to receive 971 days of cancer treatment, and completed chemotherapy in June 2020.
Keegan is now 4 years old and in remission. She's a happy, energetic kid who's come a long way since that cancer diagnosis in 2017.
She puts a smile on, and as long as she's got her princess shoes or her princess dress, she can face the world, and show everybody else what true strength is.
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