A Surprising Diagnosis of a Rare Childhood Cancer 

A trip to a local clinic for a simple cold led to a stunning discovery and a family’s passionate advocacy for lifesaving cancer research.

Kirsten Leynes and her family experienced cancer through the life of her 4-year-old daughter, Vyla, in 2021. The family was visiting Virginia when Vyla came down with a cold and was diagnosed with rhinovirus at a local clinic. During the assessment, the doctor felt a mass in her stomach. While there was no correlation to her cold, that discovery led to additional tests. Ultimately, Vyla was diagnosed with nephroblastoma, a rare type of kidney cancer that mainly affects children.  

As a mom, Kirsten spoke about the loneliness that comes with a cancer diagnosis, especially for a child. “I remember wanting to scream,” she said. Kirsten took her feelings and channeled them into advocacy for cancer research. She was recently approved to be part of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program as a Consumer Reviewer.  

Since Vyla’s diagnosis, the Leynes family has found opportunities to participate in rallies and events to advocate for cancer research and uses social media to connect with other families confronting childhood cancer, like theirs. “It’s a small community, but we’re tightknit,” Kirsten said, noting that their advocacy work teaches Vyla not only how fortunate she is, but also how important it is to be passionate about something. “She has a very deep understanding of a lot more than what most 8-year-olds do,” Kirsten said.  

Because of her engagement in rallies and advocacy events for research, Vyla has become friends with several other kids with cancer. “Unfortunately, a few friends that she’s met did not survive their cancer, or have relapsed, so she knows they can’t make it to the events anymore because they’re sick or not here,” Kirsten said.  

Vyla’s treatment included surgery to remove her left kidney and 13 rounds of chemotherapy. Today, she is in remission. Vyla is homeschooled by choice, a social butterfly among her peers, and a strong advocate for cancer research everywhere. Vyla is now “living her best life” according to her mom, doing advocacy, gymnastics, and going to Disney World any chance she gets.   

Whether you are a patient, survivor, caregiver, or loved one touched by cancer, your story can have an enormous impact. You can provide hope and inspiration to someone recently diagnosed with cancer or a patient undergoing therapy.