r By Lana HiskeyrKallie Jensen was born on August 26, 2003. She is 15 years old. Kallie was diagnosed with a rare form of soft tissue cancer called myxofibrosarcoma in her right jaw two weeks before her 11th birthday.
Because Kallie’s tumor was so big, she had a tracheotomy and a feeding tube placed. She’s had 15 surgeries that consist of bone and tissue grafts. Kallie finished 10 rounds of chemotherapy and 25 radiation treatments. Kallile was cancer free for three years. In that three years, Kallie’s trach was removed, and she had two more jaw surgeries that were less extensive.
Kallie also contracted a chronic jaw infection which consisted of another jaw surgery to remove the metal that was placed in her jaw the first go around. The infection is a side effect of radiation to the bone. Kallie still deals with the jaw infection today.
In February 2018, Kallie developed a mass on the right side of her scalp that tested positive for a second type of cancer, Sclerosing Rhabdomyosarcoma. That tumor was operated on and resected. Six months later in August 2018, Kallie had another mass behind her right ear and hasn’t been removed yet.
Kallie received three more rounds of chemotherapy that was stopped because the chemotherapy did nothing to slow the growth of the tumor. Kallie finished another six doses of stronger radiation, but the tumor is still growing. A new tumor spot was just found in her back.
Kallie’s mom, Kimberly Bjarnson, said, “Kallie plans to travel to Colorado to receive a trial drug, that we are hoping and praying will work to kill these cancer cells!”
Ms. Jessica Mohler, health and student government teacher at Mapleton Junior High, is helping to make Kallie’s dreams come true. If you would like to help, email jessica.mohler@nebo.edu.
Kallie’s story was featured on ABC4 News, by reporter Kara Murphy on November 12, 2018. Watch the interview
