Four Diamonds Fund

The Katelyn Bernard Story

Conquering Childhood Cancer

The Katelyn Bernard Story

If you are a parent, you understand the feeling that compels you to do whatever is possible to protect your child from any harm.

We are the proud parents of a 12-year-old son, Andrew, and a 5-year-old daughter, Katelyn.

Other than normal bumps and bruises and an occasional cold, both were in excellenthealth.

That was until Sunday, October 23 2011, when Katelyn, who was 4 years old at the time, said her stomach felt very tight.

First thing Monday morning, we called and got Katelyn an appointment with her doctor. By 1:30 p.m., she was getting an ultrasound of her abdomen.

We realized this was getting serious when Katelyn was immediately sent for a CT scan. We were told there was a growth on Katelyn’s right kidney. It only takes one word to completely change your entire world.

Katelyn’s pediatrician said it appeared to be cancer and that Katelyn was going to be admitted to Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital immediately.

The next day she was in surgery for 8.5 hours having her right kidney, right adrenal gland, and some swollen lymph nodes removed.

That Friday we received word that Katelyn had Wilms Tumor Stage 4 cancer with Favorable Histology: a pervasive form of kidney cancer. At this time, we were

introduced to the generosity and the support of the Four Diamonds Fund.

With the help of the Four Diamonds Fund, we were able to focus on what was most important – getting our daughter well.

Thanks to the Four Diamonds Fund, we never have to worry about paying for any out-of-pocket costs related to her treatment, including hospital stays, surgeries, and chemotherapy.

While Katelyn was in the hospital, the Four Diamonds Fund provided us with financial support to help offset our living expenses during this stressful time, including meal and gas vouchers for multiple trips to the hospital each week.

We were provided with emotional support through numerous staffmembers whose positions are funded by the Four Diamonds Fund. Our social worker was with us every step of the way.

The child life specialists really helpedKatelyn get through her treatmentsby using crafts, activities, books, toys, and companionship. We also receivedsupport from their dietician, psychologist, and music therapist.

If we didn’t have the opportunity to work with all of these wonderful professionals, our experience would have been so much more stressful.

We are proud to report that as of September 7, 2012, Katelyn’s scans showed NO evidence of

residual or recurrent disease.