If Karson Kentch had his choice, he would be outside. He was in the best mood with a fishing rod in hand, casting into cool water. He also enjoyed hunting, camping and archery.
Karson was halfway through seventh grade when he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. It’s an aggressive form of cancer and has a high relapse rate, especially in older children.
His courageous health journey inspired the Karson Strong community fundraiser in June 2024. More than 800 people have joined the Prayers for Karson Facebook group to support him and his family.
He was in remission when his cancer returned in April 2024.
He died on May 26 in Seattle, just 10 days after this 16th birthday. He was born in Richland and attended school at Calvary Christian School in Kennewick.
His mother Tara, father Blake and sister Kalirae live near Badger Canyon. They are hosting a celebration of life at the Calvary Chapel Tri-Cities in Kennewick on July 26 at 12 p.m.
They would like community members to honor Karson by supporting causes that help other children battling cancer.
Leukemia diagnosis
During a camping trip in January 2022, Karson found a small round bald spot on his head. A few days later, another spot appeared.
After a trip to the hairdresser, Karson became worried about hair loss from alopecia, so his mother took him to his pediatrician.
Karson’s doctor ordered blood work. That wasn’t typical because Karson had no other symptoms of being sick.
But it ended up being the right call.
The next day, Karson and his family learned his leukemia diagnosis. A mutation put him in a high-risk category.
From there, Karson’s treatment moved quickly. The family traveled to Seattle Children’s Hospital for care.
Karson immediately began chemotherapy and joined a randomized drug trial for one month.
His family stayed in the hospital with Karson throughout treatment. He was able to complete some school online.
“Even when he was receiving chemo, he said, ‘Let’s go fishing,'” Tara said.
Sister is a match
After two rounds of chemotherapy, Karson’s doctors wanted to try a bone marrow transplant.
His 10-year-old sister Kalirae came back as a positive donor match.
Siblings are only a 25% match for donating bone marrow. There are usually fewer complications with brothers or sisters.
Kalirae spent one month in Seattle before the transplant day in May 13, 2022.
“She was excited to help. It was her honor to be able to do something for her brother,” Tara said.
The transplant was just before Karson turned 13 on May 16. He was officially in remission.
‘Rough course’
Ten days after the transplant, Karson ended up in the Intensive Care Unit for 66 days. He had complications with the conditioning chemotherapy drugs that prepare the body for transplant.
He went into acute liver and kidney failure in 12 hours and started 24-hour dialysis.
“We became closer than ever. We were in uncharted waters,” Tara said. Family, friends, the Reata Springs Baptist Church and the school community rallied around Karson.
Only 1/3 of Karson’s liver was functioning and he had internal bleeding.
The doctors told Tara that they’d never seen a child survive what Karson went through in the ICU. They didn’t think Karson would make it.
But on September 1, 2022, Karson and his family were able to go back home to the Tri-Cities. Miraculously, there was no sign of disease.
He was able to go on an elk hunt that fall, one of his goals while he was in the ICU.
They returned to Seattle regularly that fall, spending one week there every month for nine months so Karson could receive daily chemotherapy.
He also had weekly blood tests. The chemotherapy was a backup to his sister’s healthy cells after transplant.
“All the time we were in Seattle, that kid fished every day,” Tara said. “He had a favorite fishing spot.”
“He made the best of it for the situation and hand that he was dealt.”
Winter relapse
For most of 2023, Karson stayed in the Tri-Cities and attended school. He visited Seattle much less frequently, only going once a month for tests and blood work.
In March 2024, he became sick with chickenpox.
Then in April, his tests showed abnormal numbers. Doctors in Seattle confirmed the leukemia was back.
“We were shocked and devastated. Every year that goes by after transplant, you’re less likely to relapse,” Tara said.
“We were almost to year two.”
Karson was admitted to Seattle Children’s on April 4 and started chemotherapy.
He had a second transplant from an umbilical cord donor in July. The family stayed at Ronald McDonald House from July-May.
The next two months, his tests didn’t show leukemia.
But in November, abnormal cells appeared.
The leukemia had returned. Still, Karson was able to return home for Thanksgiving and Christmas with his family.
He was admitted to the hospital from January to May after getting pneumonia. He died at the end of May.
Weeks after Karson’s death, Tara recalled her son’s optimistic attitude and positive spirit.
She remembered when he’d sit in his hospital bed and cast a fishing pole in the hallway with a $5 bill on one end. Reeling in the fishing line, he would trick nurses and others into picking up the money.
He’d race hospital staff on scooters and practice roping skills with stuffed animals.
“He had a great outlook on life and took everything as it came,” Tara said.
Karson’s family encourages donations to Ronald McDonald House Charities Western Washington & Alaska at rmhcseattle.org or Seattle Children’s Hospital at give.seattlechildrens.org.
Gifts can directly support programs that were a large part of Karson’s care including Child Life Technology Support (Gaming), Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research Fund (Dr. Todd Cooper and Dr. Ann Dahlberg) and High Risk Leukemia Clinical Trials Fund (Dr. Todd Cooper).
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