Thank you for visiting the Kayla Jane Fund web site. This site has been set up to share Kayla’s story, to help keep friends, family and community informed of Kayla’s progress and to help raise funds for Kayla and her family as she continues her recovery.

My Story

My name is Kayla Jane Van Almkerk and I am a senior at Ipswich High School. My life has been very different from other kids my age. I was born with an incurable lung disease called Cystic Fibrosis (CF). For me this has meant years of chest physical therapy, hospitalizations, surgeries, medications and physical challenges. I was diagnosed with liver disease at age seven and by my freshman year of High School I was in end stage liver failure. I remember going to school with my skin and eyes being yellow. I did not know my mom and dad and it was difficult to stay awake. I had two liver transplants in the fall of 2008 during my sophomore year in high school. After my liver transplants, I had major back surgery to treat the curvature of my spine due to severe scoliosis. While other kids are working and playing sports I have spent most of my high school in and out of Mass General Hospital. With the support of the Ipswich High School principal, guidance counselor, teachers and a tutor, I have been able to progress with my class. It might not sound like much, but I have been able to do this while missing school due to surgeries, medical procedures, pain and illness.

The medications that I now take challenge me physically. I have developed diabetes from the anti rejection medications and manage various side affects from them. I now have to manage medications, chest therapies, diet, insulin injections, and on-going doctor appointments. My parents are very supportive and helpful and they have taught me to be independent and now I manage most of this on my own. I don’t want my health issues to define who I am as a person.

In spite of all of this I have stayed in school. It has always been a dream of mine to go to college, to live in a dorm, to graduate and get a job – to be like other kids. After my second liver transplant I was healthy and energetic enough to have a small job last summer. I took the train into Boston and worked in the Human Resource at a non profit agency BayCove Human Services as a receptionist. I answered phones and greeted people. It was a challenge for me to interact with people I didn’t know as I have always been very shy. The work experience has given me more confidence. I also took risks this year academically, taking three history classes and a speech class so that when I am at college I will be able to speak up in class and to socialize with other students. I got my drivers license and have been driving myself to school and to my to doctor appointments.

I don’t take the little things in life for granted because I am very lucky that I am alive. I am excited for the adventure of going to college next year and living away from home. I am thrilled that I have been accepted to Curry College in Milton Massachusetts. Curry is a good match for me because I know that they will support me. Their class size is small (18-20 students per class) and I have confidence that I will be successful.

*** Kayla Jane graduated from Ipswich High School on June 5, 2011.

Thank you for visiting the site and reading Kayla’s story.

Kayla and her family also thank you also for all your thoughts and prayers.