Jimmy Vernon Races for Kai: A Powerful Story at the Adelaide 500
We’re thrilled to share that our amazing ambassador, Jimmy Vernon, will be racing in the V8 SuperUtes Vailo Adelaide 500 from November 16-17! This year, Jimmy will proudly sport a picture of a brave young boy named Kai on his helmet, who will be cheering him on from the sidelines with his family.
This is Kai’s story:
Kai grew up like most kids being able to live a healthy active life full of sporting commitments, schooling, weekend adventures, sleep overs with hanging out with his mates and just being able to catch up with friends like most 12-year-olds.
July 17th 2023 I took Kai to hospital as he had been unwell for two weeks. In that time, I had taken Kai to the local doctor three times but when I got home from work on the Saturday I felt that Kai should have recovered in this time. After 7 hours of being in emergency at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide and Kai having many tests we had a doctor introduce himself at 1.30am and said he had some serious news to tell us! My stomach turned into knots, tears started and then he wanted to speak to me privately. The initial words your son has leukaemia still takes my breath away and my heart is shattered.
Kai was admitted to hospital and initially we spent 14 days in hospital starting treatment straight away which saw complications right from the start.
From that day to now I could write a book on this horrendous journey our life has taken.
July 2023 to May 2024 saw Kai receive intensive chemotherapy. That time was spent going in and out of hospital for treatment, there has been many hospital admissions, trips to emergency in the middle of the night, the constant daily oral medication, phone calls for Ambulances. Kai has had many complications on-top of his treatment.
The treatment time has taken so much away from Kai he missed a year of school just starting high school when diagnosed, missing out on milestone achievements while watching his friends reach them, not being able to hang out with mates and play the sports he loves. As a parent you can’t explain the ongoing feeling, the anguish, pain, the tears, the emotions that you experience, the constant knots in your tummy watching your child unable to move due to the treatment. Having to receive blood transfusions, platelet transfusions just to get through that day. The constant blood tests, waiting on results while somehow there is a world going on that you once knew and lived.
Our lives have changed forever, the pain doesn’t leave me. For Kai who turned 14 on 4th November you will meet one very active, resilient, strong, positive, full of life boy. His passion in life is playing Lacrosse, fishing and loves to cook. Kai started field hockey three years ago as well but had been unable to get back on the field.
This year saw Kai who started his maintenance phase of treatment in May undertake his own Personal Training as well as his own training , his strong mindset and positive attitude saw him back at the lacrosse field day after day building on his fitness and in July made his official comeback to be out playing with his team mates. As a parent to be able watch your child takes steps, be able to run and be back playing sport is something you never take for granted.
Only three weeks ago Kai was unwell and spent time in hospital and in PICU with a serious pneumonia infection. We still have fourteen months of treatment to go.
The kindness and generosity of people has been truly amazing and it’s every little day of kindness that helps you forget the moment you are doing something outside hospital or treatment, it’s that distraction.
I say “We” as being a sole parent everything Kai goes through, I am going through with him, we are a team and together we will get through each day at a time.
As Jimmy Vernon races in Adelaide, he carries not only Kai’s image but also the collective hopes of families like theirs. Together, let’s cheer them on!
