KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) – Lucas Kinley, a 9-year-old boy from Kingsport, has a passion for all things Marvel. However, his love for superheroes has been overshadowed by a rare and cancerous brain tumor.
Lucas first started experiencing difficulty walking when he turned three years old. Concerned, his parents, Cayla and Michael Kinley, took him for multiple tests and hospital visits. The results revealed a tumor in his brain and another on his spine, known as a Diffuse Leptomeningeal Glioneuronal Tumor.
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This type of tumor is extremely rare and has left the Kinley family struggling to find information and support. “Not even ten years ago it wouldn’t even be considered, it’s such a new class tumor,” explained Michael Kinley.
Since his diagnosis, Lucas has undergone two spinal surgeries at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, one in 2017 and the other in 2021. Despite the challenges he faces, Lucas has remained resilient and hopeful.
Recently, the Kinley family connected with Make-A-Wish, an organization that grants wishes to children with critical illnesses. Lucas’s wish is to visit Disneyland in California and meet his favorite Avengers. Make-A-Wish East Tennessee is now working to make his dream come true.
“He’s going to Disneyland in California. He’s going to meet all of the Avengers,” said Cayla Kinley. The trip will include Lucas, his parents, and his younger brother, Mason.
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For the Kinley family, this trip is a much-needed break from the difficulties they have endured. Cayla Kinley expressed, “We have so much to worry about and we go through so much, he goes through so much. And this is just a drop of good, of hope and just a fun time for us as a family.”
The family will embark on their Disneyland adventure on December 10, creating memories that will bring joy and respite from their ongoing challenges. Despite the hardships they face, Lucas’s love for Marvel superheroes continues to inspire him and those around him.
