EXTRA LIFE: January Joy at Kapi‘olani Medical Center!
2022 was quite a year! Through it all, Extra Life and the gaming community proved to be a beacon of hope at Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children.
Katy Akitake was only 2 years old when she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. Katy was admitted to Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children where she received four chemotherapy treatments, each one requiring her to stay in the hospital for more than a month.
While her treatments continued, Katy spent more time in the Playroom, where she could simply be a kid in a fun and safe atmosphere. The staff even helped Katy celebrate her birthday!
“They took my mind off of being in the hospital by playing whatever game I wanted,” she recalls. “They even built me a castle and decorated the Playroom for my third birthday since I had to spend it in the hospital.”
Today, Katy is a big sister, in the third grade, and enjoys tap and ballet classes. She loves to swim, sing, dance and play with her friends.
The 8-year-old’s message for other young children enduring a similar struggle is simple: “Stay positive and have hope.”
Extra Lifers like YOU give kids like Katy hope. Mahalo!
Thank you for registering to rally with us in 2023, we cannot wait for the smiles Extra Life will bring throughout the year!When you sign up for Extra Life in January, you unlock an entire year of playing games and raising funds- and bringing hope to kids treated at Kapi‘olani Medical Center. Whether you connect with the community at Extra Life United in April, roll with a team for Tabletop Appreciation Weekend in August, or crush your fundraising goals with a Game Day stream in November, it starts with setting your fundraising goal and creating a plan to achieve it.
Will you kickstart your fundraising as youplay games to support Hawai‘i’s kids?
Change kids’ health and rally with us in 2023!
For more information please contact:
Hoku DeFeo, Coordinator Hoku.defeo@hawaiipacifichealth.org