Honored Hero

Kenni’s Story

At just 2 years old, Kenni Xydias learned what it was like to be supported by people from all around the world who were encouraging her throughout her journey with germ cell ovarian cancer.

Dismissed as gas

In December 2018, Kenni’s parents Michael and Meagan Xydias noticed their daughter had a pronounced belly. “She looked like a nine-month pregnant 2-year-old,” recalls Michael.

During an initial visit to their pediatrician in early 2019, it was dismissed as gas. But after the issue continued, heavily concerning Meagan and Michael, they urged their doctor to do more testing.

 

They believed Kenni’s bowels may be blocked, so she was sent to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta on Feb. 14 for an ultrasound, MRI and bloodwork. Doctors learned the devastating news that the toddler had a tumor in her abdomen and Stage 3 germ cell ovarian cancer, a type of cancer that only about 50 people 11 years old and younger throughout the U.S. are diagnosed with each year.

 

“It was crushing and earth-shattering,” says Meagan in hearing that their daughter had cancer. “We tend to make the best of every situation, but this stopped our world.”

 

Kenni was immediately admitted into the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s to begin treatment. Three days later approximately 90 percent of the softball-sized tumor was removed and Kenni began the first of four rounds of chemotherapy.

 

A community of help

She spent 17 days in the hospital during her first visit and after that stay loved ones helped Meagan and Michael care for Kenni during car rides to and from home for treatment over the next four months.