6-year-old with cancer smiles with his scars
2:00 PM, Apr 26, 2011 | comments
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LOVELAND - Dominic Kenyon has something most 6-year-olds do not have: Two smiles. Dominic has a smile on his face, as well as one on his chest - formed by scars from surgery.
Dominic was diagnosed with Wilms' tumor, a rare kidney cancer that primarily affects children. Dominic went through open-heart surgery and had one of his kidneys removed.
Dominic also had a close call. In December 2010, he went to the hospital to have his tumor removed when he experienced excruciating pain in his side. His mother, Kelly, says doctors told her that Dominic probably would not survive the surgery.
Dominic, though, proved them wrong.
"He is really our miracle child," Kelly Kenyon said. "He's defying all the rules."
After his surgeries, Dominic started undergoing chemotherapy. He will endure 25 weeks of on-and-off- treatment until the end of June. Kelly says Dominic seems to enjoy being bald and even wanted to paint an Avatar arrow on his head.
"I'm magical," exclaims Dominic.
Even though Dominic is doing better, the family's finances are struggling.
The Kenyon's owe more than $20,000 in medical bills. Luckily, the Kenyon family's four other children have rallied around Dominic and are trying to help with the hospital costs. Dominic's sisters Hailey, Taylor, Madison and his brother Logan helped make beaded bracelets to sell to help with the bills. The children's schools held penny drives. Monroe Elementary School in Loveland raised $1,500 alone. Conrad Ball Middle School in Loveland will start a drive in May.
Students who heard about Dominic in different states even pitched in to help. A school in Vermont collected $900, while another school will start a drive in May also.
Hopes Song, a cancer nonprofit organization, donated $2,000 to go towards the medical bills.
Kelly says she hates asking for help with their bills, but his illness has given her a special perspective. Instead of hiding her head in the sand, the family is fighting to keep bills paid and their child healthy.
The Kenyon family plans on holding a charity golf tournament on Aug. 13 at the Old Course in Loveland to help raise money. The entrance fee is $85. To sign up, contact Dondi Major at 970-203-5471.
To learn more about Dominic, the Kenyon family, or offer support, the Kenyons established a website on Caring Bridge, which provides free websites for loved ones of patients dealing with a serious health issue, http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/dominickenyon.
(KUSA-TV © 2011 Multimedia Holdings Corporation
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