05 Feb Meet the Kaikala Family

February 5, 2020 — Confronted with their 1-year-old daughter Jesslyn’s tough diagnosis of bilateral retinoblastoma, Kealaonaona and Rebecca Kaikala embarked on a journey from Texas to Miami, seeking better treatment options.

In May 2019,  Kealaonaona and Rebecca Kaikala arrived at the Ronald McDonald House of South Florida with their 1-year-old daughter Jesslyn from Queen City, Texas. After learning that Jesslyn had two cancerous tumors, known as bilateral retinoblastoma, her family quickly began the search for treatment. They took Jesslyn to the closest Children’s Hospital in Houston, TX, which was a 6-hour drive from their home. At the hospital, the prognosis was not clear, and the options for treatment were limited. The family then traveled to Miami, FL, with hopes of getting better treatment options at Bascom Palmer. Fortunately, Jesslyn was seen by a new doctor who began running tests and provided a clear prognosis for her condition. Since then, the Kaikala family has traveled by car from Queen City, TX, to Miami, FL, once a month so that she can receive chemotherapy. Thanks to RMHC, the Kaikala family has been able to focus solely on Jesslyn’s recovery as they continue their road trips to treatment.