When you say your prayers this holiday season, put in a word for Brooklyn Kennedy.
Roughly a year-and-a-half after it appeared she successfully battled Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of cancer in which the cells are found in the bone or soft tissue, the 14-year-old is facing another round of treatment after suffering a relapse.
Now living with her mother in Michigan, the former St. Mary's elementary school student has been going through chemotherapy for months and will start stem cell transplants on Monday at Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor.
In giving the update, Brooklyn's father, Tim, thanked everyone who provided emotional support during her previous bout over 2008-09 when she went through chemotherapy and surgery to remove one rib and have an adjacent one scraped to eliminate a tumour.
"That Christmas and throughout her treatment, friends, family and you, the people of Prince George and Canada, overwhelmed our family with support and made it a Christmas never to be forgotten," he said. "It's embarrassing and hopefully never too late to say 'thank you' to everyone for their prayers and messages of hope for Brooklyn's recovery. I sincerely thank you."
He's asking for more of the same this Christmas season - no donations, just supportive thoughts.
"I suppose that what I'm asking for is the same prayers and good wishes that Brooklyn received from all of you in 2008 as she endures yet another hurdle in her young life," he said.
A cancerous spot about the size of an eraser on the end of a pencil has emerged on her lung.
"It's moved into the soft tissue," her father said.
It occurs most frequently in teenagers and experts think it may develop during puberty when bones are growing rapidly. Brooklyn had been going through a growth spurt when it was first detected in October 2008.
"Brooklyn has been brave and mature beyond her years through all of this and grateful for everyone's kindness and support," Tim said.
