HER FUNERAL IS NEXT SATURDAY AT NEW SALEM BAPTIST CHURCH CEMETERY. A FAIRDALE TEEN BATTLING A RARE CANCER GOT A PROM SHE’LL NEVER FORGET, THANKS TO HER NURSES AT NORTON CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL. AND NOW HER PARENTS ARE SHARING HER STORY TO RAISE AWARENESS. WLKY DEANDRIA TURNER HAS CAITLIN HUTCHENS STORY OF SURVIVAL AND FIGHTING. FOR PROM NIGHT IS A RITE OF PASSAGE, A NIGHT WHERE EVERYTHING IS SUPPOSED TO FEEL NORMAL, MAYBE EVEN LIKE A FAIRY TALE. BUT FOR 17 YEAR OLD CAITLIN HUTCHINS, THIS NIGHT DIDN’T HAPPEN IN A BALLROOM. IT HAPPENED IN A HOSPITAL ROOM AT NORTON CHILDREN’S OR. SQUEEZING ALL THESE MOMENTS IN TRYING TO DO A WHOLE LIFETIME OF THINGS IN A VERY SHORT SPAN OF TIME AROUND YOU. SHE’S BEEN BATTLING OSTEOSARCOMA, A RARE BONE CANCER, FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, BUT CAITLIN STILL PUT ON HER DRESS, MAKEUP AND CROWN BECAUSE GIVING UP ISN’T WHO SHE IS. THE DOCTORS ARE SAYING WEEKS TO DAYS TO WEEKS, BUT CAITLIN SAYING NO. CAITLIN’S FAMILY SAYS IT STARTED WITH WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS A SIMPLE SPORTS INJURY. I TOOK HER TO HER PEDIATRICIAN AND THEY SAID IT WAS JUST INFLAMMATION AND TO DO TYLENOL AND ELEVATION, AND WE WERE SENT ON OUR WAY AND THINGS JUST KEPT GETTING WORSE AND SWELLING HAPPENED, AND I TOOK HER TO THE ORTHOPEDIC DOCTOR. AND WITHIN LIKE FIVE MINUTES OF THE X-RAY POPPING UP, WE SAW IT AND I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS. SIX RELAPSES LATER AND STILL NO SURRENDER. THE DOCTORS ARE SAYING THERE’S NOTHING ELSE THEY CAN DO, BUT SHE’S TELLING ME PHYSICALLY I’M NOT READY TO GIVE UP. I’M NOT DONE. AND WE READ THE BIBLE EVERY NIGHT AND WE’RE LEANING INTO OUR FAITH. AND SHE IS TELLING ME IT IS NOT MY TIME. SO I HAVE TO LISTEN TO MY CHILD, AND I’M PRAYING THERE’S A MIRACLE. AND SHE’S NOT FIGHTING ALONE. DAYS AFTER A SPECIAL GRADUATION CEREMONY ON MONDAY, PROM BROUGHT ANOTHER SURPRISE. HER BOYFRIEND PROPOSING WHEN HE’S IN THE ROOM, SHE FEELS BETTER. IT’S LIKE MEDICINE FOR HER. SO. AND I’M GONNA SUPPORT THAT. AND HE’S SUCH A GOOD KID. MOMENTS LIKE THESE ARE WHAT KEEPS CAITLIN GOING. SHE DOESN’T GIVE UP. SHE’S STRONG. SHE DOESN’T WANT TO HEAR. NO, SHE DOESN’T WANT TO HEAR QUIT. AND HER FAMILY IS HOLDING ON TO HOPE AND CAITLIN’S WILL TO LIVE. SO SHE SAY
Teen has prom in a Kentucky hospital room amid battle with rare cancer
A Kentucky teen battling a rare cancer got a prom she’ll never forget, thanks to her nurses at Norton Children’s Hospital.It’s a rite of passage; a night where everything is supposed to feel normal.But for 17-year-old Kaitlyn Hutchins, this night didn’t happen in a ballroom. It happened in a hospital room at Norton Children’s.”We’re like, squeezing all these moments in trying to do a whole lifetime of things in a very short span of time,” Hutchins’ mom said.She’s been battling osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer, for the past two years. But Kaitlyn still put on her dress, makeup, and crown, because giving up isn’t who she is.Kaitlyn’s family says it started as a simple sports injury.”I took her to our pediatrician, and they said it was just an inflammation,” her mother said. “And to do Tylenol and elevation, and we were sent on our way, and things just kept getting worse, and swelling happened. And I took her to the orthopedic doctor, and within like five minutes of the X-ray popping up, we saw it. And I know exactly what it was.”Six relapses later and still no surrender.”The doctors are saying there’s nothing else they can do. But she’s telling me physically, I’m not ready to give up,” her mom said. “I’m not done. And we read the Bible every night, and we’re leaning into our faith. And she is telling me it is not my time. So I have to listen to my child. And I’m praying there’s a miracle.”She’s not fighting alone either. Days after a special graduation ceremony, prom brought another surprise: her boyfriend proposing.”When he’s in the room, she feels better. And it’s like medicine for her. Yeah. So, you know, and I’m going to support that, and he’s such a good kid,” her mom added.Moments like these are what keep Kaitlyn going.”She doesn’t give up. She’s strong. She doesn’t want to hear no. She doesn’t want to hear quit,” her mom said.Family is holding onto hope, and Kaitlyn’s will to live.”Until she says I’m ready, then we are going to keep fighting,” said Kaitlyn’s mom.Kaitlyn’s family says the community support has been overwhelming.A GoFundMe has been set up to help with medical expenses, and a fundraiser is happening in April to support her and continue raising awareness.
A Kentucky teen battling a rare cancer got a prom she’ll never forget, thanks to her nurses at Norton Children’s Hospital.
It’s a rite of passage; a night where everything is supposed to feel normal.
But for 17-year-old Kaitlyn Hutchins, this night didn’t happen in a ballroom. It happened in a hospital room at Norton Children’s.
“We’re like, squeezing all these moments in trying to do a whole lifetime of things in a very short span of time,” Hutchins’ mom said.
She’s been battling osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer, for the past two years. But Kaitlyn still put on her dress, makeup, and crown, because giving up isn’t who she is.
Kaitlyn’s family says it started as a simple sports injury.
“I took her to our pediatrician, and they said it was just an inflammation,” her mother said. “And to do Tylenol and elevation, and we were sent on our way, and things just kept getting worse, and swelling happened. And I took her to the orthopedic doctor, and within like five minutes of the X-ray popping up, we saw it. And I know exactly what it was.”
Six relapses later and still no surrender.
“The doctors are saying there’s nothing else they can do. But she’s telling me physically, I’m not ready to give up,” her mom said. “I’m not done. And we read the Bible every night, and we’re leaning into our faith. And she is telling me it is not my time. So I have to listen to my child. And I’m praying there’s a miracle.”
She’s not fighting alone either. Days after a special graduation ceremony, prom brought another surprise: her boyfriend proposing.
“When he’s in the room, she feels better. And it’s like medicine for her. Yeah. So, you know, and I’m going to support that, and he’s such a good kid,” her mom added.
Moments like these are what keep Kaitlyn going.
“She doesn’t give up. She’s strong. She doesn’t want to hear no. She doesn’t want to hear quit,” her mom said.
Family is holding onto hope, and Kaitlyn’s will to live.
“Until she says I’m ready, then we are going to keep fighting,” said Kaitlyn’s mom.
Kaitlyn’s family says the community support has been overwhelming.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help with medical expenses, and a fundraiser is happening in April to support her and continue raising awareness.
