In Times of Need, A Community Springs to Action

Nearly two weeks ago, Scott and Suze Meredith got the news no parent wants to hear: Their 12-year old-son, Kai, was diagnosed with t-cell leukemia.

Just a week earlier, the Carrollwood family was enjoying a beach vacation with a seemingly healthy Kai running around, rough housing, and having fun.  His symptoms came on quickly.  The day before he was admitted to the hospital, Kai began developing unexplained bruises all over his body. 

Initially, his parents didn’t think much of it. 

“Kai said he didn’t remember where he got the bruises, but he’s a boy’s boy, so we didn’t think it was anything more than the result of rough play,” Suze Meredith says. 

After consulting with his pediatrician over the phone about some particularly severe bruises and strange red dots on his legs, the family decided to take him to the emergency room, just to be safe, still thinking it was nothing. After an array of tests and procedures, the shocking news came in. 

His blood platelet count was extremely low, his white blood cell counts off the charts, and a bone marrow biopsy showed it was 90 percent infected. A chest X-ray also revealed a 10-centimeter mass dangerously close to his heart.

The news was mind numbing. Until that week, Kai had been a happy, healthy, normal kid.  He loves baseball, and has a great sense of humor.  He likes to DJ mix music, and spends time playing video games with his younger brother, Dakota.  Suze Meredith says he hadn’t been sick since he was a toddler, so the diagnosis came as a  shock.

Around 4 a.m., Kai was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph’s Children Hospital to meet with a pediatric oncologist.  Given the size and location of the mass in his chest, treatment for Kai had to start immediately.  He began a round of chemotherapy and several other medications to get his blood counts back to the normal range.  Doctors told the family that the first 48 hours were especially critical—they would carefully monitor his blood counts and kidney functioning, and expected him to be in the Intensive Care Unit for at least three to four days.

Much to everyone’s surprise and joy, Kai’s blood counts had recovered remarkably by the next morning.  His kidney function was good, and it appeared that the chemotherapy had attacked nearly 90 percent of the leukemia. 

Later that night, he was moved out of the ICU.  Kai remained in the hospital to receive treatment and careful monitoring of his progress.  The mass in chest has shrunk substantially and his blood counts continue to improve. 

Suze Meredith says that even the doctors are amazed at how Kai’s body is responding to treatment, but she believes his remarkable recovery is due to more than modern medicine. 

“So many people have been fasting and praying, and I believe he is responding the way he is because God’s hand has been in all of this,” she says of Kai’s progress.

Kai’s story has touched the community, and friends, family, and even strangers have jumped to action to help. 

On June 21, Carrollwood restaurant held a fundraiser for the Meredith family. 

The purpose of the event was two-fold: first, to raise money to help the family with the many added expenses they will have in the coming months, and second, to lift Kai up in thoughts and prayers for his continued recovery. 

who works at Learning Gate Community Schools where Kai and his younger brother, Dakota, attend school, organized the event. 

The entire day was “absolutely phenomenal," Northrup says.  “It was Burger Monger’s busiest day in their history of being open."

Friends and strangers alike came to support Kai and the Meredith family, and Northrup says “the feeling in the room was just awesome."

Kai still has a long road ahead of him, with intense chemotherapy for the next 30 days, and continued treatment for 24-36 months after that. 

As the doctors have explained to Suze Meredith, “the cure rate is high, but the road is long."

The Meredith’s extend their deepest thanks to family, friends and the community for the support they’ve shown over the past few weeks. 

“We appreciate everything everyone is doing, from supporting us financially, to sending cards to Kai, to offering to spend time with our younger son, Dakota," Suze Meredith says.  “We are so humbled, and we couldn’t get through this without you."

The family is in the process of setting up a trust fund for Kai to help with the added expenses of his treatment.  Patch will post information on how to donate as soon as it becomes available.

Another local Carrollwood restaurant, , heard about Kai’s story and decided they wanted to help as well.  They will be holding a curry tasting night on Sunday, July 10th, from 5:00-8:00 p.m.  The $15 all-you-can-eat event will benefit both the Meredith family and the Leukemia & Lymphoma society.