KNOCKOUT CANCER BASH

A little boy has done his part in knocking out leukemia that suddenly took over his body earlier this year, but now it’s up to the community to provide the family with the next knockout punch.

On Saturday, Krew’s Knockout Cancer Bash will take place in Owatonna to help Krew Haase, the 3-year-old son of Mitchell and Kelsey Haase, who both grew up in Owatonna. The family now lives in Belle Plaine.

There will be a silent auction at the Eagle’s Club from 1-5 p.m. followed by a free-will donation meal at Wagner’s Lunch from 5-7 p.m. and a beer bash at Reggie’s Brewhouse from 7-9 p.m. All funds raised will go directly to the family to help cover medical bills and related expenses.

A call from daycare on April 3 changed everything for the family. Krew’s parents were told that the left side of his face had become unresponsive. “The left side of his face wasn’t working. He couldn’t smile, blink and no tears would come out,” his mother Kelsey explained. “It was pretty much a stroke in his face.”

After a blood test came back irregular, Krew was immediately taken to Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis.

By the next morning, the family received the dreadful news that Krew had Acute Myeloid Leukemia, an aggressive form of cancer found in children. That same day he began intensive chemotherapy and spent a total of 147 days in the hospital. Krew battled through five rounds of chemo with each round requiring more than 30 days of inpatient care.

During this period, Kelsey went into early labor with her third child, and medical personnel cut her bladder. At the same time, three of the family members were in the same hospital—mom on third floor, baby Huxlee on fifth floor and Krew on seventh floor.

“My husband was running crazy,” Kelsey said. “It’s something we will never forget.”

Krew has been in remission since Oct. 24, and his chest line was removed Oct. 30.

While Krew’s cancer has been brought under control, he can’t go back to daycare, forcing his mother to scale back to only a couple days a week at the Chaska dental office where she is office manager.

“It has been a roller coaster,” Kelsey said. “You are mad, sad and happy.”

What makes things especially difficult for the family is that a 4-year-old friend of Krew’s whom he met while in the hospital died of the same kind of cancer. “I’m emotional talking about it,” Kelsey said fighting back tears. “You feel guilty because some kids don’t make it home.”

After the third round of chemotherapy, Krew became extremely sick, leaving the family to think they may lose him. “It ran through our head the entire time we were there,” Kelsey said.

Kelsey said the ordeal has “completely changed the way we look at life.” They are grateful for the great family and support system that has carried them through everything.

“The power of prayer has been helpful,” said Kelsey. “It’s amazing how many have reached out to us and all the prayer groups. I believe it all helped because without the power of prayer the doctors and nurses wouldn’t know what to do,” she added.

Krew hasn’t complained one bit about the sudden turn in his childhood. “He is one of the strongest kids around,” Kelsey said, adding they are beyond grateful that he was able to beat cancer.

He is not expected to suffer any long-term effects, though he will have blood tests taken monthly for a while and then annually for the rest of his life.

“Everything looks good. We hope he stays healthy for the rest of his life,” Kelsey added.

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Krew’s Knockout Cancer Bash

Saturday, Nov. 29 in Owatonna

1-5 p.m.: Silent Auction- Eagle’s Club

5-7 p.m.: Free Will Donation Meal- Wagner’s Lunch

7-9 p.m.: Knockout Beer Bash- Reggie’s Brewhouse