In April 2021, Sporting Kansas City Honored Jylee Leeper as the Victory Project Honoree during the match against Orlando City SC. The Victory Kid is a time-honored tradition for the club. For each home match, the Victory Project honors a child battling cancer and gives them a weekend full of fun.
Jylee’s Story began when she was just eleven years old. When she was starting sixth grade, she began to complain of not feeling well. The symptoms were subtle at first: headaches after a long day of school and discomfort in her eye. Her family believed these symptoms were the result of screen time and the hormonal changes of adolescence. However, as days turned into weeks, those symptoms grew stronger, culminating in a bulging eye that alerted her family to the need for medical attention.
Their journey began at a local doctor’s office, where the first diagnosis was allergies. Yet, as Jylee’s symptoms persisted, it became clear that something deeper was going on. From there Jylee’s mother decided the next step was to go to the eye doctor. That decision led to the family getting answers as to what was causing Jylee all the symptoms.
“I had taken her to the doctor, Janelle Leeper, Jylee’s mother shared. “The doctor at first kind of thought she had some kind of allergies going on and she just mildly treated her for that. And then after that, I took her to a doctor a few more times, and then towards the end, before we found anything out, I decided that we needed to go to a local eye doctor, and that's where he proceeded to tell me that she was not seeing out of her left eye, and it was bulging because there was something blocking her vision. He continued to send us on to Children's Mercy to have an MRI to see what was going on and from they found a tumor pressing on her brain.”
The news was devastating, but for Jylee and her family, it was just the beginning of a fight that would test their strength and resilience.
As COVID-19 swept the world, Jylee’s sixth-grade year was turned upside down. Not only was she grappling with a life-altering diagnosis, but she was also isolated from friends as she transitioned to homeschooling. The absence of familiar faces weighed heavily on her spirit, yet her classmates found ways to reach out.
“Yes, in her class, they gathered together and made her cards, and when they had their virtual meetings, several would get on the meeting so they could say hi to Jylee, and that way, they could kind of see each other's faces and know how she was doing. She wasn't always able to make the meetings just because she immediately got started with chemo.”
Throughout her treatment, which included 31 rounds of radiation and 17 rounds of chemotherapy, Jylee faced each day with a courageous heart. There were moments when the illness would leave her feeling sick and weak, but she fought on.
One day during treatment, Jylee received the news that she would be the Victory Kid for Sporting KC. The recognition brought her joy and an opportunity to share her story, amplifying her voice in the fight against cancer.
Despite the challenges, that weekend was filled with joy. Jylee and her family enjoyed a stay at the Great Wolf Lodge, attended training at Compass Minerals National Performance Center, and ultimately, the match, which allowed Jylee to experience a fun-filled weekend with her family. Jylee shared that meeting the Sporting KC players during training was the highlight of her weekend as a Victory Kid.
Today, Jylee is a vibrant sophomore in high school. She is not just a survivor; she is thriving. Jylee is currently working on obtaining her driver’s permit, and he family describes her as someone who embraces life with open arms.
Jylee was also a recipient of the Make a Wish Foundation, where the foundation transformed two silos in her backyard into a “she shed” and a craft shack, where she spends time crafting, one of her many hobbies and passions. Jylee often spends time in her "She Shed" with her golden retrievers and her bearded dragon, a pet she wanted for a long time.
As a sophomore, Jylee looks into the future, noting that she wants to work in an industry that allows her to take care of children or animals, but she hasn’t quite figured out what path that will lead her down.
Jylee’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience. She embodies the mantra of living life to the fullest, cherishing every moment, and finding joy amidst adversity. Her story reminds us that even when faced with difficulty, there is strength to be found in the fight, love to be shared, and hope to be nurtured.
In the end, Jylee's journey is not just about battling cancer; it’s about the unwavering spirit that shines through in the face of challenges. She inspires others to appreciate life’s little moments and to stand together in the face of adversity. Her story is a signal of hope, proving that resilience can lead to triumph, no matter how daunting the road may seem.
