Kendall was a fun-loving, energetic child with a great smile and the cutest dimples! He loved to play games and joke around. He loved music, and he and his twin brother Zachary would crack up for hours making up silly songs. He loved to dress up in all sorts of weird costumes, and would combine themes to make his own characters, like "BatFrog" or "NinjaCowboy." He also loved video games, especially Lego Star Wars.

Kendall was diagnosed with neuroblastoma just after his second birthday. He had been unusually tired and cranky, with low-grade fevers for several weeks. He was losing weight and looking drawn and pale. He was treated for a minor ear infection. After a week of antibiotics, the ear cleared up, but the fever remained. His family thought it could be mono, but after blood and urine tests were inconclusive the pediatrician referred them to an infectious disease specialist at the hospital. A CT scan revealed a large mass in Kendall’s abdomen just on top of his kidney, and the nightmare began.

Kendall was treated with surgery, multiple rounds of chemo and two stem cell treatments. He did very well through the initial treatment with few complications or side effects. Lots of testing, and biopsies were performed and he seldom complained or cried.

When his counts or treatment allowed, he loved going to amusement parks, playgrounds, Chuck E. Cheese, children’s museums and zoos. He enjoyed playing on the computer, and was very attached to his Webkinz Pola (a polar bear), which was a gift from ALSF. He liked Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, and all things Star Wars.

Kendall always had his favorite comfort item at the hospital – Mr. Cuddle Frog.  It was so important to him that his family had two so they could wash one and still have the other available when he wanted it.  His grandmother gave him the frog at birth, and she gave Zach a stuffed cow.

Kendall relapsed about six months after the initial treatment, and went through more rounds of chemo, radiation therapy, MIBG therapy and more surgery. His family traveled to several hospitals for different treatment protocols. They may have slowed down the disease, but in the end the cancer overcame him. His last six weeks were spent in "his" room at our local hospital, where he was most comfortable, surrounded constantly by people who loved him.  Kendall only left the hospital once during this time - he insisted on going to church with his family on Easter Sunday, three days before he passed away. He always had a smile, right up until his very last day on earth. 

His family dreams of a day when childhood cancer is curable or preventable with some sort of vaccine. They dream of the day when other families do not have to go through the pain and suffering that they faced.

Sibling Quote:  Zachary (wishing upon a star outside the hospital one night): "I wish Kendall would get better. I wish all the cancers would just be gone and not make any more kids sick!"

Information provided by Aimee Jackson, Kendall’s Mother
November 2014