2024 Gameday Honorees

4.7.24 SKC vs POR Matchday Honoree

Grace's story started in early 2023 when she had a strep throat infection that would not go away. Concerned, doctors ran blood tests that revealed something more concerning. In May 2023, Grace was diagnosed with Rett syndrome, a rare genetic neurological disorder that occurs almost exclusively in girls, and leads to sever impairments, affecting nearly every aspect of the child's life: their ability to speak, walk, eat and even breathe easily.

In addition to Rett syndrome, Grace was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. She is currently undergoing treatment, with her final treatment slated for July of 2025. 

Grace loves doing art, playing outside, and all things Disney!

4.13.24 SKC vs MIA Matchday Honoree

Annabelle is a Truman State soccer commit. For several months, Annabelle had severe pain and a lump on her arm. As an avid athlete, it was originally treated as a sports injury. Luckily, deeper issues were identified, and Annabelle was sent to Children's Mercy for an MRI.

On December 6, 2023, Annabelle was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma in her left arm. She will undergo treatment for several months and undergo reconstruction surgery this month. Annabelle likes to play soccer and basketball, binge-watch her favorite shows, and hang out with her friends. She is joined tonight by her parents, Frank and Trish, and her brothers, Ben and Chase

4.20.24 SKC vs STL Matchday Honoree

When Caysen was only 2-and-a-half, he spent the summer crying over horrible leg pain. After bloodwork at the doctor's office, the Courtrights got the call that no family wants to get; it was cancer. After many days in the hospital, he finished treatment in November 2020. While he goes in for a scan every six months, Caysen's cancer is in remission!

Caysen loves to play any sport he can, play with his siblings, play Legos, and go swimming. He is joined by parents Kate and Riley, and siblings Tatum, Tristen, and Camryn.

5.11.24 SKC vs Houston Dynamo Matchday Honoree

When she was only five, Haylee woke up complaining of pain in her legs. Her mom was extremely concerned that medication didn't work and the pain intensified quickly. In the emergency room, her X-Ray came back normal, but a blood test revealed that Haylee had Pre-B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. We are thrilled to share that after two years of treatment, Haylee's cancer is in remission! She is joined today by parents Codi and Kayla, and her sister Nora!

5.21.24 SKC vs FC Tulsa Matchday Honoree

When Graham was entering pre-school, he seemed a little more tired than normal. Since he is also a picky eater, the doctor originally did a blood test to check for anemia. His bloodwork was abnormal, but the decision was made to monitor it. When Graham's bloodwork didn't improve in September 2021, he was referred to the hematology/ oncology team at Children's Mercy Kansas City for further testing.

Graham went into that appointment happy, laughing, and assuming nothing was wrong. His bloodwork at CMKC revealed that he had acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Graham began treatment immediately and was found to be extremely sensitive to chemotherapy, resulting in five days on a ventilator after Thanksgiving 2021. His treatment regimen caused him to miss in-person kindergarten, but he is celebrating finishing first grade and a full year of in-person school!

We're thrilled to share that Graham's cancer is in remission.

He's joined by his parents, Dianne and Mike, and little brother, Aubrey.

5.29.24 SKC vs Vancouver Whitecaps Matchday Honoree

In October of 2020, Keely was taken to the doctor for an acute ear infection. The doctor was surprised that she also had bruises, but she was sent home with an antibiotic. Over the next ten days, Keely's ear pain persisted, she began experiencing bloody noses, and her skin began to turn yellow. Her doctor recognized these symptoms and ordered blood tests that revealed that Keely had pre-b cell acute lymphoblasic leukemia. She started chemotherapy immediately. We are thrilled to share that after two years of treatment, her cancer is in remission! Keely is joined today by her mom, Cami, and siblings Kira, Kyzer, and

06.08.24 SKC vs Seattle Sounders Matchday Honoree

Malachi was uncharacteristically sluggish and didn't have any energy, which was concerning to his parents. They took him to the doctor who ran a blood test that showed an extremely low white blood cell count.

Malachi was transferred to Children's Mercy Kansas City immediately for a blood transfusion. While he was in the hospital, they did a bone marrow biopsy that revealed that Malachi had acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He has undergone over a year of treatment and will complete treatment in December. He is joined tonight by parents Jay and Kristy, as well as his sibling, Sam.

06.19.24 SKC vs Real Salt Lake Matchday Honoree

Manny started experiencing extreme pain that medication couldn't help. After a doctor's appointment, he was referred to Children's Mercy Kansas City, where the team ran various tests that revealed that Manny has acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In order to get the best treatment possible, Manny's whole family moved from Miami to Kansas. As a result of his cancer, Manny missed a whole year of elementary school. He is still in treatment and has to wear a port on his chest. He's joined tonight by his parents, Manuel Sr. and Maria, and siblings, Geomara and Nikita.

06.29.24 SKC vs Austin FC Matchday Honoree

In December 2021, Olive was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, a blood cancer that causes immature blood cells in the bone marrow not to mature. In March 2022, she underwent a bone marrow transplant at Children's Mercy Kansas City, and her cancer went into remission.

Unfortunately, Olive had a negative reaction to her transplant and developed chronic graft versus host disease (cGHD), causing her donor cells to attack her existing cells. While initially under control with steroids, Olive began having breathing issues last year. It was discovered that her cGHD caused bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) and her airways are extremely scarred. With the support of her family, friends, and the team at CMKC, Olive is still in school and is very active! She's joined today by parents, Lauren and Phil, and siblings Milo and Birdie.

07.07.24 SKC vs FC Dallas Matchday Honoree

Xander was referred for a sleep study which requires blood work. After going to the lab for blood tests, he was dropped off at school. Only 30 minutes later, Xander's primary care doctor emergently referred him to Children's Mercy Kansas City because his white blood cell count was ten times above normal. Doctors were waiting in the CMKC emergency room, prepared to test him for leukemia.

They were able to identify that Xander has chronic myeloid leukemia. This type of cancer never goes away but can be managed with daily oral chemotherapy, which Xander has taken since he was six years old. We are thrilled to share that Xander is in molecular remission, meaning he has 0% cancer in his blood, but he has to be tested every three months to make sure it remains under control.

He is joined by his parents, Eric and Ashley, and his sister, Khloe.

07.10.24 SKC vs FC Dallas Matchday Honoree

Elijah was born with a heart condition called (HLHS); he had his first treatment at just three months old, then two more after. Finally received a heart transplant in September 2023 and was Children's Mercy's longest patient to wait for a heart transplant. While going into the surgery, he told the doctors that after, he would finally feel normal, but he doesn't know what normal feels like since he has been sick his whole life. The surgery went great and was successful. He is happy, healthy, and full of energy now. He can go to school and run around where, as before, he couldn't. Now, he just has to do frequent follow-ups at Children's Mercy to make sure there is no rejection of the heart transplant. He is enjoying his life after the surgery and just enjoying being a kid.

07.20.24 SKC vs St. Louis Matchday Honoree

Ava was diagnosed with B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on March 27, 2017. She underwent 800 days of chemotherapy and treatment and finished treatment on June 5, 2019. She has remained cancer-free. Ava was an active, happy, healthy 4-year-old little girl! She loved going to dance class, taking swim lessons, and going to preschool every day. That was until January 2017, when one day, she began complaining of back pain.

Within a week, Ava was no longer able to walk, stand, or even sit up most times due to the severe pain in her back. It took nearly 12 weeks to get answers and a diagnosis for Ava.

She became completely bedridden, extremely sick, and dehydrated and had to be admitted to the hospital on March 25th. On March 28, 2017, she began chemotherapy treatment.

She finished treatment 800 days later, however, that treatment came with some horrendous short-term, and long-term, side effects. Since Ava finished treatment in 2019, she has battled extreme neuropathy, memory issues, severe dental issues, anxiety, PTSD, and muscle weakness, to name a few things. She continues to be treated at Children's Hospital due to the damage of treatment.

07.28.24 SKC vs Chicago Fire Matchday Honoree

Daniel lived in Honduras with his mom and brothers. He started feeling ill and he was taken to the hospital where the doctor diagnosed him with Leukemia. At the hospital in Honduras, Daniel’s health began to worsen every day, and the doctors would not approve his discharge and transfer to the United States where he could receive the treatment he desperately needed. It took five weeks before Daniel’s discharge was approved, and he was transported to Children’s Mercy Kansas City where he received life-saving care. We are thrilled to share that Daniel’s cancer is in remission! He is joined tonight by his father Arnold.

08.05.24 SKC vs Deportivo Toluca FC Matchday Honoree

Melanie was six years old when her mother noticed her skin color looked strange and her mother’s intuition told her something was off. After taking Melanie to the Children’s Mercy Kansas City, the doctors ran bloodwork, and that same day told the family that Melanie had Leukemia. Melanie’s leukemia was detected in time, and she had a 90 percent chance of remission. After two and a half years of chemotherapy we are happy to share that Melanie is in remission. Melanie is a smart and loving eight-year-old who likes to play with her dogs, friends and family. Melanie is joined today by her parents Gabriela and Efrain, as well as her siblings, Alexandra and Sophia.

08.24.24 SKC vs Orlando City SC Matchday Honoree

On November 10, 2020, Oliver was at his sister's sports practice and started complaining of leg pain. After the pain persisted for several months, doctors ran blood tests that revealed his white blood cell levels were extremely low. He was immediately referred to Children's Mercy Kansas City, where he underwent two and a half years of treatment. Despite his cancer, Oliver is extremely energetic, outgoing, and courageous. These characteristics, along with the support of his family, friends, and the team at CMKC, Oliver was able to complete treatment on January 12, 2023. We are thrilled to share that his cancer is in remission! He is joined today by his parents, Jamie and Ryan, and his sister, Kaylee.

08.24.24 SKC vs Orlando City SC Matchday Honoree

Just a few days after turning nine years old, Miles was complaining about seeing double. We took him to an eye doctor who urgently sent us to the ER. An MRI in the middle of the night discovered that he has a brain tumor. We were then urgently rushed to Children's Mercy, where he underwent an emergency ventriculostomy (brain surgery), which successfully stabilized his vision and allowed him to see normally again. However, the tumor is inoperable, so Miles is undergoing high-dosage chemotherapy once a month and is scheduled to receive 18 doses. He'll be 10 and a half when finished with this round of chemo if all goes well. Currently, there are no real "slam dunk" medicines available to target and treat his type of tumor. While we are expecting this to be a lifelong battle for Miles, we're grateful that, for now, the tumor is having a minimal impact on his quality of life. We are crossing our fingers and praying for medical advances in the coming months to help provide therapies for his type of tumor, and we are truly grateful for the amazing care of Dr. Ginn at Children's Mercy Kansas City.

09.21.24 SKC vs Minnesota United FC Matchday Honoree

When Weston was only seven months old, he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a type of cancer that begins in the bone marrow and can rapidly spread to other areas of the body. As an infant, Weston underwent chemo and a bone marrow transplant. Despite these measures, his cancer relapsed. Luckily, Weston was accepted into a medical trial that has been a miracle and he has been in remission from AML for five years!

Unfortunately, as the result of his numerous transplants, Weston developed graft versus host disease (GHD) which causes his new donor cells to attack existing cells in his body. In April 2023, this fighter was introduced to another battle. After a fall, doctors discovered a brain tumor. Unfortunately, the location of this tumor is surgically complicated. His medical team at Children's Mercy Kansas City and other hospitals are keeping an eye on it and holding as long as they can before they attempt surgical intervention. Throughout his medical challenges, Weston has remained spunky and courageous! He is joined tonight by parents, Emily and Shane, and sister Vivian.

10.05.24 SKC vs LAFC Matchday Honoree

Lily started having leg pain in early 2022. When over the counter pain medication didn't help, doctors investigated further. Tests revealed that Lily had Ewing sarcoma, a type of cancer that affects bones and soft tissue. She was immediately referred to Children's Mercy Kansas City where she underwent six rounds of chemotherapy and tumor removal in June 2022. After she recovered from surgery, she underwent an additional eight rounds of chemo to make sure the cancer was completely eliminated. While she still gets MRI an CT scans regularly and has to wear an ankle foot orthosis brace due on her right leg where her tumor was removed, we are thrilled to share that Lily's cancer is in remission! She's joined today by parents Regan and Kellen, and brother, Ethan.