Sadie Keller, Recipient of the Good Kid Award, Utilizes Her Journey to Assist Other Young Cancer Patients.
by Karyn Brodsky
The news of a cancer diagnosis can be daunting for anyone. For a child, it can be incomprehensibly distressing for their parents. One can only imagine the turmoil that a young patient experiences internally…
Sadie Keller intimately understands the weight of such a diagnosis. The Lantana resident and aspiring fifth-grader at Blanton Elementary School received her own diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on February 25, 2015, at the tender age of seven. Although her prognosis is promising, Sadie endured a month in the hospital, numerous medical appointments, and two and a half years of chemotherapy.
Her mother, Sarah, recalls how surprised she and her husband, Shawn, were when only two months post-diagnosis, Sadie took the initiative to create videos aimed to inform and comfort other children facing similar battles. “One day, she ventured into my closet and, unbeknownst to us, produced a 17-minute video explaining what to expect and offering encouragement,” shares Sarah. “We were astonished at how much she absorbed during her appointments.”
What could inspire such a young girl to undertake a project showcasing such profound insight? Sadie explains, “I remembered how scared I was when I was diagnosed, so I wanted to help other kids and their parents understand what was coming.” Now, the Child Life Specialist at the Dallas-based Children’s Medical Center, where Sadie received her treatment, shares her videos with newly diagnosed patients.
As if her videos weren’t remarkable enough, Sadie also initiated a toy collection drive to bring joy to hospitalized children during Christmas. “It all started when I asked my doctor if Santa visited the hospital because I couldn’t bear the thought of being there on Christmas,” she recounts. After creating a video and sharing it on social media, the donations flooded in. “In 2015, I gathered 1,300 toys; in 2016, that number jumped to 4,600, and this year, I aim for 10,000,” Sadie states. “These gifts are distributed to children at the Children’s Medical Center in Dallas and Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, and this year, I hope to include the oncology floor at Medical City.”
The success of the toy collection led to the establishment of The Sadie Keller Foundation, and Sadie’s latest initiative, Milestone Gifts, provides presents to children who achieve significant milestones in their cancer journey, such as completing treatment or entering remission.
Despite grappling with her own challenges, Sadie’s voice resonates powerfully. In 2015, she had the opportunity to speak at the Golden Toast kickoff for the Childhood Cancer Caucus in Washington, D.C. By March 2017, she was lobbying alongside Representative Michael McCaul to advocate for increased federal funding for childhood cancer research and rallying Congress to support the RACE for Children Act. Sadie champions numerous organizations, including The Truth 365 and CureFest for childhood cancer. Recently, she used her talents as both a model and artist at the Children’s Cancer Fund Gala, which successfully raised over $1 million for pediatric oncology research and treatment initiatives at the Children’s Medical Center.
Sadie’s advocacy is strongly supported by her parents, Sarah and Shawn, along with her 12-year-old brother Grant. “He deeply admires his sister and graciously allows her to take center stage,” says Sarah. “He is incredibly proud of her and is a wonderful brother and son.”
Having just celebrated her own milestone with a “no-more chemo” party, Sadie is not slowing her momentum. While many young cancer survivors return to the normalcy of childhood, Sadie is gearing up for another trip to Washington, D.C. “I want to make a difference. I plan to keep doing this for as long as I can,” she asserts. “My goal is to alter the experience for other kids facing cancer.”
In recognition of her remarkable compassion, selflessness in supporting fellow young cancer patients, her efforts to prepare them for their journeys, her toy collection initiatives, and her advocacy in Washington, D.C., despite her own ongoing treatment, we honor Sadie Keller with our Good Kid Award and a donation to her foundation.
