September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a time to recognize the strength, courage, and resilience of children and families affected by cancer. This month, we honor the life and legacy of Kaycee, a joyful, determined 10-year-old who touched the hearts of everyone she met, including her teammates on the Kent State women’s basketball team.
In April 2023, Kaycee was diagnosed with medulloblastoma brain cancer at just nine years old. She endured surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, working tirelessly to regain the ability to walk, talk, and sit up on her own. Her diagnosis changed much of her daily life—she had to give up travel basketball and horseback riding, things she loved deeply—but she never lost her good sense of humor or her ability to crack a joke. Kaycee’s mom, Nicole, remembered, despite everything she was going through, that Kaycee was “joyful most of the time.”
When Nicole learned about Team IMPACT through another family in the program, she knew it was the perfect fit for her daughter, who was missing the team experience she loved so much. In July 2023, Kaycee was matched with the Kent State women’s basketball team. From the very beginning, the Golden Flashes made Kaycee part of the family. Dionna Gray, a Team IMPACT Fellow and one of Kaycee’s closest teammates, remembered, “we met Kaycee, she was this funkiest little sassiest girl I think I’ve ever met, super upbeat and outgoing, very adamant about what she wanted, very hard-headed. Kaycee was our biggest cheerleader. She and her mom and dad would come to every single one of our games, cheering loud and proud for us. She was just a joy, and it was amazing to see her after every game.” Weekly visits to campus helped Kaycee break out of her shell, and Nicole described the program as a “game-changer,” saying, “this is the start of getting Kaycee back to her old self.”
Kaycee and her teammates shared so many unforgettable moments: celebrating holidays and birthdays, grabbing ice cream, staying connected with video messages, and cheering together on the sidelines. Kaycee and the team were even honored on the court during a Cleveland Cavaliers game, which Kaycee said made her “feel like a rockstar” the entire night. Through it all, the Kent State players never wavered in their commitment to Kaycee. She was always their biggest cheerleader, and they were always hers.
Unfortunately, Kaycee’s cancer returned. Her teammates visited her in the hospital and reminder her every day how much she has impacted each of them. On July 22, 2024, Kaycee passed away. Though her time was too short, her impact was profound. She brought joy, laughter, and perspective to everyone around her, especially her teammates on the Kent State women’s basketball team.
This is one of the many life lessons Dionna learned through her friendship with Kaycee and part of the reason why she felt so drawn to continue celebrating Kaycee’s legacy through her work in the Team IMPACT Fellowship program. “I feel like as a Team IMPACT member, we were able to bring a lot of smiles not only to Kaycee but to her parents,” she said. “They were so happy to see her interact with us and just have a smile on her face. We were there for them after Kaycee’s passing, and before as well, so just knowing that they can still lean on us for anything that they need is really important for a Team IMPACT family.”
At Fellowship Summit in Boston this summer, Dionna tearfully reflected on Kaycee’s legacy. “After meeting Kaycee, I feel like our team has always been close, but she was really able to bring us all in together and really helped us appreciate every single day that we get,” Dionna said. “Her life was cut short, so just getting to be in the moment and be where are feet are was really important for the team. She really showed us how to be happy, no matter the situation you’re in.”
Even after Kaycee’s passing, the bond between her family and the team has remained strong. Dionna shared how the team continues to spend time with Kaycee’s family through pool parties, ice cream outings, and more. “We still get together and spend time with Kaycee’s family because they’re so important to us and to this team,” she said. Before leaving for Fellowship Summit, Nicole made Dionna a pin with Kaycee’s face on it, so her spirit could travel with her to Boston and beyond. “I actually texted back and forth with Kaycee’s mom today,” Dionna said, “sending her a picture and telling her that Kaycee’s in our hearts and she’s enjoying the city along with me.”
Through her friendship with Kaycee, Dionna has learned strength she hopes to share with other families going through similar situations to Kaycee’s. “I think it’s really important to be the strength and support behind the families in need,” Dionna said. “It can be a rough time, but to be able to put a smile on their face means everything through the tough times, so just continue to support and be strong for them as they continue to fight.”
Kaycee’s story is one of resilience, love, and community. She showed her teammates how to keep smiling, even in the toughest circumstances. This Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we honor her memory, we support families in the childhood cancer community, and we celebrate the extraordinary impact children like Kaycee have on their teams, their communities, and beyond.
