Kelly is a 29-year-old medulloblastoma survivor who lives in Wisconsin.
I was lucky to have access to some of the best research and treatments when I was diagnosed with brain cancer, especially at such a young age. It’s crucial we keep supporting research so more people have an opportunity to heal and return to living their lives and pursuing their passions.
She was diagnosed at 20 years old in December 2016 after an emergency room visit led to a CT scan that found a tumor in her brain. In the months leading up to her emergency room visit, Kelly was misdiagnosed with vertigo and an ear crystal condition by her primary care physician. Her nausea and vertigo increased in severity until her family took her to the emergency room. Less than forty-eight hours after the CT scan, Kelly was rushed to emergency surgery to remove the tumor. Post-surgery, she was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a brain cancer that is most common in children under the age of 14. Since Kelly was 20 years old, her oncology team debated whether it was best to treat her as a pediatric or adult patient, and ultimately, they decided on an adult treatment plan.
After surgery, Kelly received proton beam radiation treatment at the Mayo Clinic. This treatment was a direct result of cancer research and targeted Kelly’s brain tumor while sparing her surrounding healthy tissues. At the time, Mayo Clinic was one of the few places in the country to offer this treatment option. After 30 days of proton beam radiation treatment, Kelly had a one-month break and began four months of chemotherapy.
Kelly lived in Minnesota at the time of her cancer diagnosis and treatment. When she was diagnosed, she was working full-time at Staples and received private health insurance through her employer. She had to take a leave of absence to pursue her cancer treatment and focus on healing and recovery. After six months of being on leave, she was fired from her job and lost access to health insurance. This happened during her chemotherapy treatment. Kelly had to scramble to apply for Minnesota’s Medicaid program, and fortunately, she qualified.
After Kelly completed cancer treatment, she returned to work full-time in September 2017. However, her body couldn’t physically meet the demands of her job. She was fatigued and required naps for several hours a day. She had to stop working again and figure out how to support herself while her body healed. Kelly applied for Social Security Disability Insurance, and she qualified, allowing her to receive health insurance through Medicare. She had access to these support programs through the end of 2022, which allowed her enough time to recover. During that time, Medicaid, Social Security, and Medicare provided her with the support she needed so she could be civically engaged in her community. She served as the Director of her local Chamber of Commerce from 2016 (pre-diagnosis) through 2021, and she served on the Pine Island, MN City Council from 2018 -2022.
In 2023, Kelly moved to Wisconsin and began working full-time and no longer qualified for Medicaid, Social Security, or Medicare. Today, Kelly continues to be an active member of her community and was elected to the La Crosse County Board in April 2024. She is also the President of the Toastmasters Club and enjoys painting, drawing, collaging, and selling her creations at markets in her free time.