Mckinney Courier-gazette > News
Fashionable treatment
McKinney leukemia patient to participate in Children’s Cancer Fund event
By Stefanie White, McKinney Courier-Gazette
Haley Steck’s trip to the orthodontist last year was supposed to be a typical visit, to see if she needed braces. But that orthodontist, Dr. Jennifer Buchanan, ended up being a guardian angel, according to Haley’s mother, Jan Steck.
It was during a follow-up visit with Buchanan when Jan said Buchanan noticed something wrong with Haley.
“She said, ‘She looks like she has a little bit of swelling in her jaw line,’” Jan said.
The Stecks took Haley to the doctor that day and soon found out that Haley had acute myeloid leukemia, a cancer that is rare in children.
“She was diagnosed March 5 of 2007,” Jan said.
Haley started chemotherapy immediately the diagnosis. Jan said the treatments were very intense for her daughter.
“It was pretty hard,” Jan said. “She was sick.”
On June 27, 2007, Haley underwent a bone marrow transplant at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. The Stecks were fortunate enough to find a donor in the family.
“We were very lucky because her brother, Garrett, was a perfect match,” Jan said.
Haley, a Valley Creek Elementary School fourth-grader, was unable to attend school during her treatment.
“The school district provided a homebound teacher,” Jan said. “She was able to go back to school full-time in January [of this year].”
On March 28, Haley will participate in the 20th Annual Children’s Cancer Fund Luncheon & Fashion Show in Dallas. She will have her artwork featured in a special calendar for pediatric research and will be a model in the fashion show.
For her calendar picture, Haley drew a picture of her house during the holiday season.
“It’s like a big Christmas tree with presents and people around it,” Haley said. “When I drew the picture, it was close to Christmastime.”
Haley also was able to pick out some outfits for the fashion show, courtesy of Dillard’s, who is a sponsor of the event.
“We went to Dillard’s and we got to pick out an outfit that you like and I picked out a sports outfit,” Haley said.
These days, life is starting to go back to normal for Haley. She’s like many girls her age, and she’s quick to list off some of her favorite pastimes, such as playing soccer and basketball.
Haley also enjoys spending time with her new puppy, Dos, a bloodhound/boxer mix that the family bought for Christmas.
“I like to play fetch with her,” Haley said.
One thing Haley said she is looking forward to soon is pursuing her musical ambition with electric guitar lessons.
“Some of my friends play instruments and we’re going to form a band,” Haley said. “One plays the keyboard, one plays the guitar, one is a singer and we don’t have a drummer yet.”
Calendars can be purchased for $15 through the Children’s Cancer Fund by going online at www.childrenscancerfund.net. Proceeds from the calendars go to Children’s Cancer Fund to help advance pediatric cancer research and treatment programs at Children’s Medical Center and UT Southwestern Medical Center.
Contact staff writer Stefanie White at swhite@acnpapers.com. To post comments online, access this story at www.scntx.com.
By Stefanie White, McKinney Courier-Gazette
Haley Steck’s trip to the orthodontist last year was supposed to be a typical visit, to see if she needed braces. But that orthodontist, Dr. Jennifer Buchanan, ended up being a guardian angel, according to Haley’s mother, Jan Steck.
It was during a follow-up visit with Buchanan when Jan said Buchanan noticed something wrong with Haley.
“She said, ‘She looks like she has a little bit of swelling in her jaw line,’” Jan said.
The Stecks took Haley to the doctor that day and soon found out that Haley had acute myeloid leukemia, a cancer that is rare in children.
“She was diagnosed March 5 of 2007,” Jan said.
Haley started chemotherapy immediately the diagnosis. Jan said the treatments were very intense for her daughter.
“It was pretty hard,” Jan said. “She was sick.”
On June 27, 2007, Haley underwent a bone marrow transplant at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. The Stecks were fortunate enough to find a donor in the family.
“We were very lucky because her brother, Garrett, was a perfect match,” Jan said.
Haley, a Valley Creek Elementary School fourth-grader, was unable to attend school during her treatment.
“The school district provided a homebound teacher,” Jan said. “She was able to go back to school full-time in January [of this year].”
On March 28, Haley will participate in the 20th Annual Children’s Cancer Fund Luncheon & Fashion Show in Dallas. She will have her artwork featured in a special calendar for pediatric research and will be a model in the fashion show.
For her calendar picture, Haley drew a picture of her house during the holiday season.
“It’s like a big Christmas tree with presents and people around it,” Haley said. “When I drew the picture, it was close to Christmastime.”
Haley also was able to pick out some outfits for the fashion show, courtesy of Dillard’s, who is a sponsor of the event.
“We went to Dillard’s and we got to pick out an outfit that you like and I picked out a sports outfit,” Haley said.
These days, life is starting to go back to normal for Haley. She’s like many girls her age, and she’s quick to list off some of her favorite pastimes, such as playing soccer and basketball.
Haley also enjoys spending time with her new puppy, Dos, a bloodhound/boxer mix that the family bought for Christmas.
“I like to play fetch with her,” Haley said.
One thing Haley said she is looking forward to soon is pursuing her musical ambition with electric guitar lessons.
“Some of my friends play instruments and we’re going to form a band,” Haley said. “One plays the keyboard, one plays the guitar, one is a singer and we don’t have a drummer yet.”
Calendars can be purchased for $15 through the Children’s Cancer Fund by going online at www.childrenscancerfund.net. Proceeds from the calendars go to Children’s Cancer Fund to help advance pediatric cancer research and treatment programs at Children’s Medical Center and UT Southwestern Medical Center.
Contact staff writer Stefanie White at swhite@acnpapers.com. To post comments online, access this story at www.scntx.com.
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