Fort Scott Kindergarten student fights battle against rare cancer

Submitted Photo MaKenzie McDonald, 5, Fort Scott shortly after her and her family discovered she had cancer of the kidneys.

By Rayma Silvers

The Fort Scott Tribune

Five-year-old MaKenzie McDonald likes animals, riding horses, playing with toys and coloring, just as any girl her age enjoys doing. However, McDonald must overcome a challenge that not all children her age must face.

In September, when McDonald began feeling ill, her mother, Jill Farmer McDonald, sought help from the family's local physician. After performing a urinalysis, McDonald's physician admitted her to the hospital for dehydration. More tests revealed a hard spot on McDonald's left side, which was later determined to be a Wilms' Tumor the size of a cantaloupe.

According to the Mayo Clinic, www.mayoclinic.com, a Wilms' tumor is a rare kidney cancer that primarily affects children. The tumor is also known as nephroblastoma. It's the most common malignant tumor of the kidneys in children. The peak time of Wilms' tumor occurrence is at age three, and it occurs only rarely after age eight.

According to Jill, McDonald underwent an operation on Oct. 3 to have the tumor removed and tested to see if it was cancerous.

"We were hoping it wasn't cancerous," Jill said, "but it was."

Jill explained even though doctors were hopeful they had been able to remove all of the tumor during the operation, McDonald has had to endure many chemotherapy treatments in addition to some radiation treatments to ensure the cancer is gone. Results of a recent test determined McDonald will need to continue receiving chemotherapy treatments at least until May and maybe even longer.

However, Jill said, the latest report was not all bad. Originally, doctors had discussed the possibility of McDonald needing to undergo more radiation treatments as well as the chemotherapy. McDonald's condition has improved enough that the radiation will not be necessary.

In spite of all McDonald has gone through, even recently undergoing a blood transfusion, Jill said she has kept her spirits up.

"She has a good, funny personality. That has not changed. Even through everything, her spirits are still high," she said.

For Jill, the support of family, friends and church family has been helpful in this agonizing journey.

"You just go day by day. That's all you can do," she said. "We all pray every night. It's up to the good Lord."

In support of McDonald, friends of the family have organized a benefit auction to help with some of her medical expenses. At 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24, at Fort Scott Community College Arnold Arena, 2108 S. Horton St., Jim Stewart Auction will be conducting the auction. Refreshments will be available for purchase during the auction. Area residents who wish to donate items for the auction are encouraged to contact Larry Mewhinney at (620) 215-3068 or Jim Stewart at (620) 224-6177.

In addition to the auction, local residents are also conducting a chili feed from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 21 at the Elks Lodge, 111 W. 19th St. All proceeds from the chili feed will benefit McDonald. Anyone interested in supporting McDonald through the chili feed may purchase chili, a drink, and a dessert for $5.