| Who is Kylie? She is a beautiful girl who was diagnosed with cancer at
age 2. The particular type of cancer she had was neuroblastoma, a very aggressive cancer with a low long-term survival rate. Because of this, her treatment plan was extremely aggressive and she spent most of her second year of life in and out of hospitals.
After her initial 8 months of treatment, she was in remission for several years. Then, the cancer returned and she spent the next 7 years in and out of remission, trying one treatment plan after another.
She dealt with all kinds of physical discomforts during this time and lost her hair at the beginning of kindergarten and again in 5th grade (remember what 5th grade was like? Try it with no hair!) When people described Kylie, you would hear comments like "happy", "caring", "always had a smile", and "generous" . How is that possible? How do you put a young child through so much and have her still be a happy, well-adjusted child?
To Kylie, the cancer was just an inconvenience that needed to be overcome. It got in her way sometimes, but she'd find a way to get through it and move on without another thought about it. Suprisingly, she lived a very normal life. To look at all the places Kylie went on vacation, and all the activities she participated in, it wouldn't seem possible that she had time to have cancer.
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Kylie's Approach to Life
Kylie's approach to life was simple and innocent. Her "can-do"attitude and happiness was contagious!
One of her favorite sayings was "Put your big girl pants on". This meant you just needed to find a way to handle what was going on and not whine or complain about it. Deal with it and move on. She was the best example of this!
We also talked a lot about believing in yourself. She knew if she felt good about herself, others would as well. This helped her get through many trying times, including starting school with no hair. It gave her the courage to go on even when things got tough and it taught her to dream big. Anything was possible as long as she believed in herself.
Kylie always liked to make people smile. If you looked like you were having a bad day, you can be assured Kylie would have some kind words or a hug for you. She loved to know that she had made someone feel better.
Moving Forward
We lost Kylie to cancer in June 2008. What helped get her mom through some of the toughest days was using the lessons Kylie had taught us. She would want her mom to "put her big girl pants on" and find a way to create a new "normal" for her and Kylie's brother, Brandt.
As we shared our stories of how Kylie had touched our lives, it was surprising to us how many other people were sharing similiar stories regarding how Kylie impacted their lives. We realized that her influence didn't have to end. We could share what we learned from her in a fun and meaningful way. As a result, the concept of KylieStuff.com was born.
We will all go through tough times in our lifetime. Our hope is that the products we offer put a smile on your face and give you the courage when you need it most!
*Please contact our team through the "contact us" page of our website for more information. We will get back to you right away
