Kailey with St. John Vianney principal Caryn DeMello. (Photo courtesy of St. John Vianney School)
St. John Vianney School rallies with prayers and funds for fellow student with cancer
By Anna Weaver
Hawaii Catholic Herald
At 6 years old, Kailey Jong-Perez loves many things kids her age do: riding her bike, eating sushi and mochi waffles, skateboarding, blowing bubbles and reading “Elephant and Piggie” books with her little brother, all arts and crafts, and baking with her mom.
“She’s brave, strong, happy and very loving,” Renee Jong said.
So when Jong got a call from the St. John Vianney School office that Kailey had been in too much pain to make it to the first water station of the school’s charity run in late November, she knew something was very wrong.
Kailey, who has gone to St. John Vianney since she was 3, had a cold and had been complaining about muscle aches for a little while, but this seemed much more than normal growing pains.
After testing and scans, the first grader was hospitalized with a collapsed left lung and diagnosed with Stage III T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Lymphoma. She is now receiving chemotherapy and transfusions and has been hospitalized a few times since her diagnosis.
Kailey’s sudden health crisis has meant she hasn’t been able to attend class in person. However, Jong says St. John Vianney School has been so understanding.
Besides Kailey, Renee and Kailey’s dad Scott Perez also have Kaison, who is in the Early Learning Center, and a 10-month-old daughter, Kailena, and have been juggling a lot.
“We are overwhelmed in a good way with how much support they’ve given her,” Jong said with emotion in her voice. “It’s not just her school, it’s not just a community, it became our family regardless if we know everybody or not.”
While Kailey Jong-Perez wasn’t able to attend the Hearts Aglow dance in person due to being hospitalized, members of the parent-teacher organization made sure to Facetime her into the dance to say hi to friends for about an hour of the event. (Photo courtesy St. John Vianney School, Kailua)
Her teacher has sent home schoolwork so Kailey can keep up with her studies. Through the Monkey in My Chair program, a nurse came to explain to Kailey’s classmates about her condition using a stuffed monkey Kailey dubbed Grookey. The monkey sits in Kailey’s chair in school when she’s not able to be there.
And in a matter of two weeks, the Parent Teacher Student Hui (PTSH) transformed a planned family Valentine’s dance into a fundraiser for Kailey and her family.
The “Hearts Aglow” dance raised $7,000 through a spaghetti dinner, refreshment sales and other donations. There were glow sticks, Valentine’s cookies, face painting, and a lot of dancing.
While Kailey was hospitalized at the time of the dance, she was able to FaceTime with attendees at the party for almost an hour and also had a little dance party with her nurses. Grookey, her stuffed monkey, was there too, in a place of honor.
A few days later, after she was out of the hospital and feeling up to it, Kailey and her mom were able to come to a school assembly to accept the dance donation.
“We’re all rooting for her and praying for her,” said St. John Vianney principal Caryn DeMello.
As to what Hawaii Catholic Herald readers can do, “At this time, prayers will be more than enough,” Renee said.
