For 5-year-old Kinsley Bennett, it started with a low-grade fever, followed by leg pain at bedtime — symptoms so small that her parents, Josh and Samantha (Sam), weren’t overly alarmed. “We thought maybe it was growing pains,” Sam said.
That’s because everything else about Kinsely seemed fine. She had lots of energy and was her usual, sunny self. There didn’t seem to be cause for concern. But after Kinsley developed another unexplained fever, they went to their local doctor in their hometown of Ponca, Nebraska.
“Her lab results showed critical high white blood cell counts. They wanted us to go to Sioux Falls for further testing,” Sam said.
The 90-minute drive to the Emergency Department at the Sanford USD Medical Center is one Sam will never forget. “It was very emotional driving to Sioux Falls. My mind was racing. I was trying to stay positive, but that fear was always in the back of my mind,” Sam said.
After more tests, Sam and her husband, Josh, eventually learned the devastating news: Kinsley was diagnosed with high-risk B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Their little girl had cancer.
“It’s a moment that’s etched in my mind. How was this possible? You never think something like this is going to happen to your child, to your family,” Sam said.
For the next two years, Kinsley and the entire Bennett family would navigate a complicated cancer journey filled with joyful wins and heartbreaking setbacks — but thanks to programs and services fueled by philanthropy, they felt surrounded by love every step of the way.
Care and Compassion, When it Mattered Most
A childhood cancer diagnosis is a lot to take in. The tests, scans and treatments can leave kids feeling scared and anxious, while their parents and loved ones may feel helpless and overwhelmed. But thanks to a program called child life, Kinsley and her family had the resources, education and guidance they needed to face the road ahead.
Provided at no cost to families thanks to the generosity of donors, the child life program is designed to make medical experiences easier for kids and families through education, therapeutic play, preparation, emotional support and more.
“The day after her diagnosis, child life came in and really explained everything in kid terms to help Kinsley understand her diagnosis,” Sam said. “They had a stuffed animal with a chemo port to show her what her own chemo port would look like and how it would work. They explained things before every procedure so we all felt prepared. They even gave our other daughter a great book to help her understand what her sister was going through and what to expect.”
The child life team also provided support to kids and staff at Kinsley’s school.
“Kinsley was the first child at her school to have ever navigated a pediatric cancer journey, so it was a big shock to her entire school community,” Sam said. “The child life specialists did a great job explaining everything and talking to the kids and teachers about what to expect.”
Beyond providing support and resources, Sam said the child life team was a ray of light during what could have been a dark and difficult time. “The child life specialists make Sanford Children’s Hospital a happy place. They managed to bring joy to some of life’s toughest moments,” she said.
And when it came to special occasions like Halloween — one of Kinsley’s favorite days — Sam said the entire staff came together to make the day special.
“The Castle of Care is amazing. We are so thankful we ended up in Sioux Falls. Everyone was just wonderful,” she said.
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No child deserves a cancer diagnosis, but thanks to Sanford Children’s Hospital, the amazing staff and programs like child life and direct assistance, our experience was as positive as it could be. We knew we weren’t fighting alone.
Kinsley’s Mom
A Tough Journey
When Kinsley began her treatment plan in the fall of 2023, Sam was hopeful the worst was behind them.
Sadly, she was wrong.
Throughout her cancer journey, Kinsley weathered multiple chemotherapy-related side effects, including two bouts of pancreatitis and multiple episodes of neutropenia — dangerously low white blood cell counts which left her vulnerable to infections. A serious infection in September 2024 led to a blockage in her liver, resulting in a 38-day stay at the Sanford Children’s Hospital, including time in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) where Kinsley relied on a ventilator to breathe and received dialysis for her kidneys. As her condition improved, she needed physical therapy to regain her strength and occupational therapy to relearn certain skills.
“We know chemo is important at saving her life, but the side effects — they’re so hard,” Sam said, noting that since her treatments began, Kinsley has needed 27 blood transfusions, 26 platelet transfusions and two plasma transfusions.
Her daughter’s experiences have inspired Sam to help raise awareness for childhood cancer research.
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Kids are different than adults and the cancer drugs we have today impact them differently. There aren’t many cancer drugs specifically designed for kids. This is where research can play a huge role. These kids shouldn’t have to endure these side effects.
Kinsley’s Mom
Hope for the Future
Sam’s hopes for the future of pediatric cancer care are coming to life right now at Sanford Research where scientists are working to unlock new possibilities for the treatment of childhood cancers.
It’s called the Innovations in Pediatric Oncology Initiative, and over the last several years it has advanced immunotherapy and cellular research in exciting ways, revealing new insights and discoveries for the promise and power of harnessing a child’s own immune system to help fight cancer.
Fueled by a philanthropic gift from the Ahrendt family and the L3 Foundation, the Initiative is where “some of the best and brightest minds in pediatric oncology research are working faster than ever before to help us achieve the goal we’re all striving for: survival rates of 100% for all childhood cancers,” said Dr. Kyle Roux, vice president for Biomedical Research at Sanford Research.
Learn more about the Innovations in Pediatric Oncology Initiative.
Looking Forward
Now 7 years old, Kinsley is getting stronger every day as she continues to receive maintenance care related to her cancer diagnosis. She’s looking forward to returning to school and is dreaming of becoming a nurse when she grows up “so she can help people the way her nurses helped her.”
She’s also ready to tell her story.
In September, Kinsley and her family will share her incredible journey to inspire support for kids with childhood cancer during the 2025 Results-Townsquare Media Cure Kids Cancer Radiothon.
The two-day event, set for Sept. 26-27, will raise support for local kids fighting cancer at Sanford Children’s Hospital. 100% of every gift will make a difference by supporting areas like pediatric cancer research, lifesaving equipment and meaningful services like child life and direct assistance, a program that helps families with meals, travel, lodging and other costs not covered by insurance.
For the Bennetts, the direct assistance program was a game-changer.
“The travel vouchers and travel vouchers were so great. In the beginning, we were driving back and forth to Sioux Falls weekly — a three-hour round trip. With so much on our minds, it was nice to not have to constantly worry about buying food or gas. It was so helpful,” the family said.
Childhood cancer can happen to any child, anywhere — but together, we can ensure no child or family fights cancer alone, Sam said. She’s hopeful her daughter’s story will inspire others to give from their hearts.
“Even $5 can make a difference for kids and families going through a difficult time,” she said.
Give for Children. Give for Hope.
If you’re inspired by Kinsley’s journey and want to support the 2025 Results-Townsquare Media Cure Kids Cancer Radiothon, give online today.
100% of your gift will make a difference for local kids and families facing childhood cancer.