Benefit planned for local child with leukemia

Three-year-old Katelyn Dannenmueller, daughter of Pam and Ryan Dannenmueller of Scott City, poses with an elf at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. A benefit auction, dinner and dance for the toddler who was diagnosed with leukemia three months ago is set for Jan. 24. (Submitted Photo)

SCOTT CITY -- Three-year-old Katelyn Dannenmueller is like any other toddler. She loves Mickey Mouse, princesses and her baby brother, Jacob Paul.

But over the past couple months, Katelyn has endured more than any child should ever have to because on Oct. 14, 2008, she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a cancer of the white blood cells.

Katelyn and her parents, Pam and Ryan Dannenmueller of Scott City, returned home Dec. 31 after nearly three months of treatment at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

A benefit auction, dinner and dance in Katelyn's honor is set for Jan. 24 at St. Denis Parish Center in Benton. St. Jude covers all the medical expenses insurance does not so money from the benefit will go toward living expenses.

In order to be with Katelyn during her treatments, neither of her parents worked for two and a half months, and they still have at least two more month-long visits to St. Jude.

Katelyn's mother, a 1998 graduate of Kelly High School, is a teacher for Scott City R-1 Schools, and her dad is employed by Unilever in Sikeston. She is the granddaughter of Stan and Shirley Essner of Benton, Donna and Tim Joplin of Cape Girardeau and Cletus and Tina Dannenmueller of Scott City.

"People have been very generous," said Shirley Essner, who is helping organize the fundraiser.

Auction items are still coming in, Essner said.

"We have an antique porcelain doll donated from a lady who is also a cancer survivor. We have a lot of other items coming in, and we're looking for (St. Louis) Cardinals tickets for the auction," Essner said.

Pam Dannenmueller said when she first learned her daughter had leukemia, it was unbelievable.

"You hear the word, but it doesn't sink in. The first week was a blur. Once everything started settling down, I started reading further about it," Dannenmueller said.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common form of childhood cancer. About 80 percent of children who have ALL can be cured, according to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Web site. However, children must undergo chemotherapy to kill the leukemia cells.

Dannenmueller recalled how her daughter's cancer was discovered.

"She had gotten a bite, and her doctor diagnosed it as a spider bite. I kept my eye on her for that," Dannenmueller said.

In the meantime, Katelyn, who had been pale, never regained her color, Dannenmueller said. She started getting petechiae, or red spots under the skin often caused by a low platelet count, and she had bruising.

So Dannenmueller -- who had researched the symptoms of childhood leukemia on the Internet and found Katelyn had all but one symptom -- called the doctor.

"I just had this feeling that something else was wrong, and her doctor did the blood work, and we were sent to Children's Hospital in St. Louis. We were there for two days and decided to go to St. Jude (Children's Research Hospital) for treatment," Dannenmueller said.

During their time in Memphis, the Dannenmuellers stayed at the Ronald McDonald House, which serves St. Jude patients and families staying in Memphis for treatment that is expected to last eight days to three months.

"St. Jude is an amazing place, Dannenmueller said. "They cater to the families. Anything you need, they will get for you. If they don't have it, they will find a way to get it. The nurses and doctors are wonderful with the kids. When doctors and nurses come in Katelyn's room, they talk to her before they acknowledge Ryan and me."

During their time at St. Jude, Dannenmueller said two exciting incidents happened.

"We met the owner of the St. Louis Rams and Jon and Kate Gosselin," Dannenmueller said.

The Gosselins are of TLC's show "Jon and Kate Plus 8" which chronicles the life of the young couple who have a set of twins and sextuplets. The episode of the Gosselins visit to St. Jude aired Dec. 15, and Katelyn was seen toward the end of the show.

"They were really nice," said Dannenmueller said about the Gosselins, who visited Katelyn and other patients in their rooms in November.

Katelyn got to come home three days for Christmas and has been home since New Year's Eve. She has to go back to St. Jude on Jan. 11.

"Katelyn is in remission, and all of her (blood cell) counts are good," her mother said.

Treatment will last another two and a half to three years. The next phase of treatment will consist of the family spending one week at St. Jude and one week at home for eight weeks.

Dannenmueller said she's noticed a change in her daughter over the last couple months.

"When we first started, she was terrified and confused. And as we have gone on, she now has decided she wants to be a nurse or a doctor. She knows the names of all of her medicines. She'll ask what they're doing, and she'll help them do it," Dannenmueller said.

Katelyn is currently taking four medicines, including an antibiotic she must take for three years and an oral chemotherapy she has to take for the next two and a half years.

"After this phase, I don't know what happens. When I asked the doctor, to give me a timeline, he said to just go one day at a time," Dannenmueller said.

So that's what Katelyn and her family are doing.

"Katelyn has grown up faster than any child should have to. She's dealing with it very well for a 3-year-old," Dannenmueller said. "She's strong and funny and she loves her little brother."

And when Katelyn's long strawberry blonde hair started falling out due to treatments, her mom and a family friend played beauty shop, Dannemueller recalled.

"We painted her toenails. We let her cut her own hair, and I fixed it up. Since then, she's been completely fine," Dannenmueller said.

It was through the support of family, friends and the community that helped get the Dannenmuellers through the past couple of months, Dannenmueller said.

Her family has even been offered financial support by people they don't even know, Dannenmueller said.

"We were at the doctor's office (for my son), and I was talking to a lady and telling her what happened (with Katelyn). When I left, she came out and gave me a twenty-dollar-bill. I just started crying. I had just met her.

"You don't realize there are still good people out there. ...It takes something like this to realize how good people are," Dannenmueller said.

Dannenmueller urged families not to get wrapped up in all the craziness of every day life.

"Just sit back and enjoy your children. Give them as many hugs and kisses as you can," Dannenmueller said. "... Don't take anything for granted."

If you go...

What: Benefit auction, dinner and dance for Katelyn Dannenmueller

When: 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Jan. 24

Where: St. Denis Parish Center in Benton

Details: Doors open at 5 p.m. for silent auction. Dinner served at 6:30 p.m. Silent auction closes at 7:30 p.m. with live auction immediately following. "The Intentions" band will play from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. There will be a 50/50 raffle.

Ticket information: Contact Jessica Pattengill at (573) 382-2812 or Shirley Essner at St. Denis School at (573) 545-3017 for tickets. Tickets are $25 each.

Want to make a donation? Checks made out to Katelyn Dannenmueller can be sent to Security Bank and Trust, 1514 Main St., Scott City, MO 63780.