Join us in celebrating Keaton Kiddo Kaleb officially being 10 years CANCER FREE. Kaleb, on behalf of the Keaton’s Team, we honor this huge milestone and know that you will continue accomplishing great things.
It has been an honor to be involved in Kaleb’s journey since the beginning and to watch him grow into an amazing young man. He has volunteered at our family events including Holly Jolly, making Hope Chests, and the Knighting ceremony for our annual St. Baldrick’s events.
As shared by his loving Mother:
We are so blessed to be celebrating our 17-year-old son, Kaleb Phillips, who is 10 years cancer-free today. On November 17th, 2008 when he was only 5 years old, Kaleb was diagnosed with a rare cancer called Rhabdomyosarcoma, which was located in his upper eyelid. After undergoing chemotherapy and 6 weeks of radiation for a whole year, we saw improvement and thought he was cancer-free for life. Then, exactly two years after his initial diagnosis, on November 17th, 2010 we found out that his cancer came back in the same place. We spent another year doing chemotherapy, but halfway through his chemo treatment, we were given some devastating news. Kaleb stopped responding to treatment and if we didn’t remove his eye and eye socket, his chances of survival would be only 5% and the cancer could spread up to his brain. So, we had to make a heart-wrenching decision for Kaleb to undergo a procedure called Enucleation and remove it all. Now that we look back, it was the best thing we could have ever done because now, we have our son, a healthy, handsome, smart, witty and caring old soul in our lives today. Don’t get me wrong, the removal of his eye and eye socket comes with a lot of staring, questions, and talking about, but he has been able to persevere through all of it. He uses his experience to educate others about the reality and effects that childhood cancer can have.
Despite the loss of Kaleb’s eye, it has never stopped him from living life to its fullest. From completing his lifeguard training to playing competitive soccer and finishing up his 4th year on the Varsity team at Roseville High School, and dedicating himself to become an Eagle Scout, Kaleb’s resiliency has supported him to achieve his goals. He has always worked hard in and out of school and is now applying to colleges such as San Luis Obispo, Berkeley and anywhere his heart desires. His goal is to become an engineer just like his father. We are so blessed to be celebrating our son Kaleb’s milestone of being 10 years cancer-free with his family, friends, and the world. Kaleb is forever our light, our HERO and every breath we take.
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