MARYSVILLE – This time of year, when we see the color orange, we usually think of Halloween. But for the Chargers Pee Wee football team, it means showing support for their teammate who was just diagnosed with leukemia.
First-year player Kennedy O’Day, 7, one of few girls in the league for 7- and 8-year-olds, started the season well playing offensive guard, family friend Kristin Urban said.
“Then she had decreased energy and complained about being tired and in pain,” Urban said.
Rose Thomas, a parent of a Chargers player, said, “She was one of the best linemen we had.”
Coach Jake Miller added: She played with more heart on the line than some of the boys did some days.”
Miller said he never noticed any problems physically from Kennedy, other than she didn’t like the running part of practice.
“But half the team didn’t like conditioning,” Miller said.
About three weeks ago during practice Kennedy was stepped on by a cleat during a pileup on the line.
“It was extremely visible, more than normal,” the Chargers coach said.
She got a “nasty, funky bruise” so she went to a doctor, Urban added. Two days later, after blood work was sent to a lab, the O’Day family was told Kennedy needed to go to Children’s Hospital in Seattle because she has leukemia. She had surgery two days later and has now had three chemotherapy treatments.
Kennedy was feeling good enough to attend the Chargers game Oct. 10. I was her 8th birthday.
“After the game we lined up and sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to her. It made her day,” Miller said.
All of the players and coaches were wearing peel-and-stick patches with ribbons that are orange, the color for leukemia awareness. The patches say, “No One Fights Alone.” Urban also dyed 35 pairs of socks orange for the Chargers to wear.
“It rained like crazy that day. We all ended up with orange feet,” Miller said with a chuckle.
The team had fund-raisers to help with medical and other costs. “Buzz cuts for Kennedy” were sold for $10 each for three hours.
Miller didn’t get a buzz cut but other coaches and players did.
“I had a big meeting in Portland today (Oct. 15) and I couldn’t go with a shaved head,” said Miller, who did get a trim at the event.
Urban and others also did a bake sale and raffle from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., raising $1,700.
But the fund-raising isn’t done. At the Marysville Getchell High School Homecoming Game against Stanwood Oct. 24, the winner of the raffle, Dillon Kuk, will be an honorary captain, along with Kennedy.
“It will be last minute if she feels up to it,” her coach said.
Some of the MG players know Kennedy because they help with youth football teams.
At Homecoming, volunteers will be handing out stickers and fliers telling them about a website where donations can be sent: www.gofundme.com/f4wr80.
Family friend Karla Jo Metcalf created the account. It already has raised $5,430 of the $7,500 goal with 61 donations in 17 days. The Allen Creek Elementary staff chipped in $1,000 and Marysville Youth Football $200.
Of Kennedy, Metcalf says: “She is just now feeling the effects of the chemo – feeling pain in her bones, sleepless nights and nausea. On a positive note her white blood cell count has dropped… Please continue to keep Kennedy and her family in your prayers. Thank you so much for everyone’s donations. I know the O’Day family is overwhelmed with everyone’s generosity.”
Coach Miller said the support from the community has been “phenomenal.”
“It’s been above and beyond. They’ve been so giving and caring. Parents of players on other teams would ask, ‘Is this for the sick little girl?’ and throw in twenty dollars.”
