Holiday wish: 'We just want to keep her with us'

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- Lily Skeen was exhibiting the classic symptoms of an ear infection, including tugging on her ear.

But a visit to the doctor revealed the 4-year-old had a much more serious condition. "By the end of the day, we'd gone from an earache to leukemia," said Lily's dad, Dan Skeen. "We were told to immediately take her to Texas Children's Hospital."

Lily, who has Down Syndrome, was admitted and soon underwent her first round of chemotherapy.

Lily gets to go home to The Woodlands in between rounds of chemo, but when and for how long depends on her blood counts. She was home last week and enjoyed an early Thanksgiving with her family.

Lily is currently in the hospital for her second round of chemo. Dan said there will be a total of four rounds of chemo, but the final round is one of the most important.

That's when Lily is scheduled to receive a bone marrow transplant.

"We've already been tested, along with her two siblings, and none of us are a match," Dan said.

Lily's sister Maggie, 13, is a student at McCullough Junior High. Her brother, 10-year-old Forest, is a student at Mitchell Intermediate.

A blood and bone marrow drive is slated for Tuesday Dec. 6 at Mitchell Intermediate School. Participants can donate blood and/or undergo a simple mouth swab to be added to the bone marrow registry.

"We have a feeling we will find a match some how, some way," Dan said.

Lily's mother Christel Skeen is a teacher at Mitchell Intermediate, where staff have rallied around her in many ways, including donating paid days off so Christel can spend more time at the hospital with Lily.

"We've had incredible support from friends, coworkers and the community," Dan said. "We are so thankful.

"Overall, Lily is doing really well. She has a very bright future. We just want to keep her with us."

Want to go?

What: Blood Drive and Bone Marrow Registration in honor of Lily Skeen

When: Noon – 6 p.m. Tuesday Dec. 6

Where: Mitchell Intermediate School, 6800 Alden Bridge Drive

Schedule an appointment: Visit www.giveblood.org and log in to Digital Donor. Enter sponsor code G082