Hashtag movement helps young girl battling cancer

MEMPHIS, TN (WTVQ) – Seven year old Kinlee Johnson, of McDonough, Georgia, may be missing some hair and her two front teeth, but what she isn’t missing is courage, determination and fight.

“She’s a warrior.  She is the bravest little girl I’ve ever met,” said her father, Danny Johnson.

Danny and his wife Nicole knew something was wrong with their energetic softball star in the Fall of 2017.  Kinlee began complaining of headaches and dizziness.  She was seeing spots and started losing her balance.  The first stop was the eye doctor.

“They told us her scan was a little abnormal.  So, they referred us to a neurologist.  The very next day I called and made an appointment for one week later.  We never made it to that appointment,” said Nicole Johnson.

Kinlee ended up in an emergency room.  After a battery of tests, Kinlee’s parents were called into a conference room by the doctors.

“I remember walking down that hallway and just thinking, I know I’m going to get really, really bad news.  I’m going to a conference room, you know.  But that last thing that’s going through your mind is they’re going to tell you your daughter has brain cancer,” said Nicole.

Doctors removed a golf ball-sized tumor from the base of Kinlee’s skull.  The next stop was St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.  The family took great comfort in knowing they didn’t have to worry about catastrophic medical bills arriving in the mail.  No family at St. Jude ever receives a bill for travel to Memphis, food, lodging or treatment.  That is possible because of donations from the public, including from people who purchase $100 raffle tickets for a chance to win a St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway House like the one in Lexington, Kentucky.

“We are at St. Jude and we’re able to give 110% of ourselves to our child who is fighting brain cancer.  The things we see and deal with on a day-to-day basis is something no parent should ever have to go through.  But, to be at St. Jude and go through this is such an amazing experience in itself and we wouldn’t be able to do that if it wasn’t for St. Jude and the generous people to who donate to the hospital,” said Nicole.

Fundraisers for Kinlee have been held in the Johnson’s hometown and online and a hashtag KKStrong movement has garnered support from people all over, including basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal.

But, the Johnson’s will be the first to tell you that all of it goes back to the place where they find cures and saves lives, St. Jude.

“Just spending one day here is the most humbling experience you will ever have.  It will change your life forever,” said Nicole.

The hero of this story sums it up best.

“Thank you, St. Jude.  Usually if children don’t make it through cancer it’s not because of chemotherapy or radiation, it’s because of the cancer.  I know chemo and radiation make you very sick, but when I knew that all of my cancer was gone, I was so happy to know that and it’s because of St. Jude.  Just the feeling of being here is awesome and amazing,” said Kinlee Johnson.

You can help Kinlee and all the children at St. Jude by purchasing a ticket for a chance to win the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway House in Lexington, Kentucky.  The drawing is this Thursday, June 21, 2018 during ABC 36 News at 6:00 p.m.

To get your ticket(s) call toll-free 1-800-382-7512 or purchase them online by clicking here