Keegan is twelve, and he has leukemia.
He’s the son of a close friend of mine. His family is in the hardest stretch they’ve ever been through, and enough people have asked me how they can help that I put this page together. Everything is here.
Set up by Keegan’s parents · Goal $100,000
About Keegan
Keegan Ho is twelve and lives in Irvine. Basketball is his sport — he’s the one still shooting after everyone else has packed up. He swims, he golfs, he plays volleyball, and he’s a good student on top of it. His tutor sent a get-well card to the hospital that finishes by telling him to hurry up and get back on the court.
His parents have always said he has the heart of a champion. They meant it about basketball. It turns out to cover a lot more than that.
What’s going on
He was diagnosed with leukemia this summer. It showed up the way it usually does — tiredness that didn’t lift, bruises that didn’t add up, and then a blood test that changed everything.
He’s being treated at CHOC Children’s in Orange County. So far that has meant long stays on the oncology floor, a lot of medication, constant blood draws, transfusions, and a calendar his parents now build their whole lives around. He finished his first round of chemo a few days ago. That’s a real milestone, and it’s also the start of a long treatment plan rather than the end of anything.
One of his parents is at the hospital with him more or less around the clock, which is where a twelve-year-old needs his mom and dad to be. It also means work has mostly stopped.
What the money is for
Insurance covers a lot of this. It doesn’t come close to covering all of it. The fundraiser his parents started is aimed at the gap:
- 01Out-of-pocket medical costs, deductibles, and the bills insurance turns down
- 02Medications, both in the hospital and at home between rounds
- 03Long hospital stays, and the driving back and forth
- 04Meals and lodging for a parent living at the hospital
- 05Lost income while his mom and dad are at his bedside instead of at work
Their goal is $100,000. It all runs through GoFundMe and goes straight to the family. Nothing on this page collects anything or signs you up for anything.
How you can help
If you’re able to give, that’s the most direct thing. If you’re not in a position to, the rest of this genuinely counts too.
Donate any amount
Ten dollars from a lot of people moves this further than anything else. GoFundMe sends it straight to the family.
Pass it along
Reach is most of the game with a fundraiser. Forward this page, or share the GoFundMe link with a line in your own words.
Give blood or platelets
Kids in leukemia treatment go through donated blood and platelets constantly. Giving at your local blood center helps children like Keegan everywhere.
From me
I’ve known Keegan’s family a long time and I’ve watched this kid grow up. That’s the two of us in his room after his first round of chemo. He gave me a thumbs up for most of the visit.
There’s no obligation here at all. If you can donate, thank you. If you can only pass it on, that helps too. And if you ever want to know how he’s doing, just ask me — I’ll have an update.
David Ta
Thanks for reading this far.
Anything you’re able to do helps this family get through the next stretch.