header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
September 18
1962 - Articles of incorporation filed for Golden State Memorial Hospital on Lyons Avenue [story]
Golden State Hospital


[KHTS] – Another blood drive for local cancer patient 2-year-old Kennedy Rae Urban will be hosted by the Paseo Club of Valencia on Thursday, May 29 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

paseo-club-host-blood-drive-young-cancer-patient-kennedy-rae-urbKennedy was born on Feb. 5, 2012, but only 18 months after parents Kevin and Melissa Urban of Castaic had welcomed her into their family, they noticed she had lost her appetite, seemed fatigued and generally was not feeling well.

Melissa Urban said she thought it might be teething at first and doctors assured her it was nothing.

But the symptoms didn’t go away. Eventually Kennedy was crying in pain, and Urban brought her into Urgent Care.

“I just knew as a mother there was something else going on,” she said during an interview in September.

Kennedy was transferred to the Northridge Hospital Emergency Room and then toChildren’s Hospital Los Angeles, where she underwent “every test you could possibly imagine,” including ultrasounds, CT scans, blood work and a bone scan, Urban said.

The eventual diagnosis came on July 30–Stage 4 High-risk Neuroblastoma, a form of cancer that affects the nervous system and can cause tumors in the adrenal glands, bones, skin, liver and lymph nodes, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicinewebsite.

“It’s a rare cancer,” Urban said. “…the doctors say they only see about 500 kids in the United States a year that get it.”

Since the diagnosis, Kennedy has had surgery and been given multiple rounds of chemotherapy, in addition to blood transfusions and platelet transfusions.

Those interested in giving blood on May 29 must call 661-904-4527 or email helpkennedyrae@gmail.com. to reserve a time slot.

paseo-club-host-blood-drive-young-cancer-patient-kennedy-rae-urbKennedy’s blood type of O+, and all matching donations will be reserved specifically for her transfusions.

Any other donations will used for children like Kennedy at Children’s Hospital L.A.

While a lot of attention is often focused on breast cancer and other adult cancers, Urban wanted to remind the community that “there’s little babies out there that get this, too. Not just adults have to go through the treatment. Kennedy will go through almost the same exact treatment that an adult would.”

“There are quite a few children that I’ve met since Kennedy has been (at Children’s Hospital), that also have neuroblastoma,” she said.

The family has created a CaringBridge site and a personal site with updates on Kennedy’s treatment.

Urban expects that their family will continue fundraising and raising awareness for children’s cancer in the years to come.

“My husband and I are hoping that when this is all said and done we can set up a fund in her name,” she said, “so we can help other families.”

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

13 Comments

  1. I’m O+! I’ll be there!

  2. I’m O+! I’ll be there!

  3. Our thoughts and prayers are with Kennedy and her family.

  4. Just sent my email!

  5. I’m O+ and just sent my email :)

  6. marina marquez says:

    O+ email sent!

  7. Amy Guerra says:

    Im 0+ but Im not able too. :( I hope theirs a big turnout. God bless you.

  8. Josh Shannon says:

    I’ll be in scv in June if I can still help. I’m O-negative!

  9. Harry Thy says:

    Send me an email at horso@earthlink.net. I’m O Positive.
    I’m old (68) but the blood still works.

  10. O+ just sent my email! Can also do directed platelets if needed.

  11. Just sent my email! I’m O+ too :)

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Wednesday, Sep 18, 2024
Sept. 21: JCI Invites All Veterans to Upcoming Resource Fair
JCI Santa Clarita is proud to announce the upcoming Veteran’s Resource Fair, scheduled to take place on Sept. 21 at William S. Hart Park. 
Tuesday, Sep 17, 2024
Sept. 19: SENSES Pirate Block Party
Get ready to set sail at the Pirates SENSES Block Party, presented by the city of Santa Clarita, Thursday, Sept 19 from 7-10 p.m. on main street in Old Town Newhall.
Tuesday, Sep 17, 2024
Foothill League Football Begins for SCV Teams
Six of the seven Foothill League Varsity football teams begin league play Friday night, Sept. 20.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
The Counties of Los Angeles and San Bernardino today announced the opening of multiple joint Local Assistance Centers to assist residents impacted by the Bridge and Line Fires.
L.A., San Bernardino Counties to Open Joint Local Assistance Centers for Residents Impacted by Bridge and Line Fires
Valencia Gynecology Associates, owned by longtime Santa Clarita Valley OB-GYN physician Don Nishiguchi, MD, has joined the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital network. 
Valencia Gynecology Assoc. Joins Henry Mayo Network
JCI Santa Clarita is proud to announce the upcoming Veteran’s Resource Fair, scheduled to take place on Sept. 21 at William S. Hart Park. 
Sept. 21: JCI Invites All Veterans to Upcoming Resource Fair
A "friendies" field tournament  is being  hosted by the Saugus Instrumental Music program, with support from Valencia High, later this month. 
Sept. 21: All Valley Showcase Comes to Valencia High
Public, member-supported 88.5 FM The SoCal Sound, Southern California’s leading Triple-A (adult album alternative) format radio station has announced the lineup for its inaugural “Year-End Bash” taking place on Saturday, Dec. 7.
Dec. 7: CSUN Owned 88.5-FM The SoCal Sound Announces “Year End Bash” Lineup featuring Ben Gibbard
The Master's University cross-country teams continued their successful 2024 campaigns with strong finishes at the BIOLA Invitational on Friday, Sept. 13 at Craig Regional Park in Fullerton, Calif.
TMU Women Win, Men Place Second at XC Invitational
Sheriff’s Department Announces New Law Enforcement Gang Policy
Sheriff’s Department Announces New Law Enforcement Gang Policy
The biology department at California State University, Northridge has stayed committed to promoting STEM research carried out by K-12 students and teachers in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
CSUN Student Research Journal Celebrates 28 Years of Inspiring Scientific Imagination
Did you know the SCVEDC has an interactive, online tool that provides themed virtual tours of the amazing features the community has to offer? 
Take a Virtual Tour of the Santa Clarita Valley
California Institute of the Arts alum and visionary filmmaker Tim Burton (Film/Video 1979) was honored with the 2,788th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
CalArts Alum Tim Burton Receives Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
1962 - Articles of incorporation filed for Golden State Memorial Hospital on Lyons Avenue [story]
Golden State Hospital
The Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center welcomes back Jim Curry for an evening concert celebrating the music of John Denver on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom at Bella Vida.
Oct. 5: SCV Senior Center Welcomes Jim Curry ‘Take Me Home’
As part of the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency's ongoing commitment to ensuring local groundwater quality and reliability, the SCV Water recently began construction on a new treatment facility to remove perchlorate and volatile organic compounds at Well 205 in Valencia.
SCV Water Begins New Water Treatment Project in Valencia
Get ready to set sail at the Pirates SENSES Block Party, presented by the city of Santa Clarita, Thursday, Sept 19 from 7-10 p.m. on main street in Old Town Newhall.
Sept. 19: SENSES Pirate Block Party
No. 21 College of the Canyons football team knocked off No. 5 Fullerton College 29-13 on Saturday night behind a stifling defensive effort and five field goals from Luis Rodriguez.
No. 21 Canyons Knocks Off No. 5 Fullerton 29-13
Six of the seven Foothill League Varsity football teams begin league play Friday night, Sept. 20.
Foothill League Football Begins for SCV Teams
The California Institute of the Arts will present the "NAACP Santa Clarita Masquerade Ball", Friday, Oct. 4, 7-11 p.m. at 24700 McBean Parkway, Valencia, CA 91355.
Oct. 4: NAACP Santa Clarita Masquerade Ball at Cal Arts
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is investigating two human cases of a rare parasitic infection, Baylisascaris procyonis, also known as raccoon roundworm.
Public Health Investigating Disease Spread from Animals to Humans
1879 - First official Newhall School building erected near Walnut & Ninth streets [story]
First Newhall School
The city of Santa Clarita is hosting Make A Difference Day on Saturday, Oct. 26 and is looking for enthusiastic residents to volunteer for various projects that benefit local nonprofits, as well as the city.
Oct. 26: Volunteers Needed for Make a Difference Day
Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital and PathPoint announced the graduation of Aiden Land and Andrew Mendence from the Project SEARCH internship program.
Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, PathPoint Celebrate Grad Interns
The William S. Hart Union High School District has announced upcoming community information meetings about Learning Post Academy Independent Study School, Thursday, Sept. 18 and Friday, Sept. 19.
Sept. 18-19: Learning Post Academy Online Information Meetings
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting Wednesday, Sept. 18, 5 p.m. in open session to interview and appoint a new trustee for Area 5.
Sept. 18: COC Board to Interview, Appoint Area 5 Trustee
The city of Santa Clarita wants to remind residents that volunteer registration is open for the 29th Annual River Rally Cleanup and Environmental Expo scheduled for next Saturday, Sept. 21, from 8 to 11 a.m. at the William S. Hart Pony Baseball and Softball Complex, 23780 Auto Center Drive, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
Sept. 20: Last Chance to Register for the River Rally
SCVNews.com