Fundraising site set up for boy diagnosed with cancer

A GoFundMe.com site has been set up for a 15-year-old Bethlehem boy hours after he was diagnosed with cancer.

The fundraising page was set up for Kenneth Brownlee III, formerly of Palmerton, who was diagnosed with cancer on Wednesday.

His aunt, Katelyn Grace Gaumer, said Kenny was taken to St. Luke’s emergency room in Bethlehem on Tuesday night by his mom for stomach pain and a distended stomach.

Gaumer said Kenny was rushed by ambulance to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and a few hours later after the doctors looked over all his results, confirmed he has cancer on his liver, colon, intestines and abdomen.

She said Kenny has been put on morphine to relieve his pain.

“This is going to be a very long, hard road for Kenny,” Gaumer said. “Our family is completely devastated. Our family is asking for prayers and donations to help Kenny kick cancer’s butt. Any little bit counts. As we know more, we will keep everyone updated.”

She said Kenny is a Boy Scout, loves being outside, loves video games and is a “very smart, very good kid.”

Amanda DeLeon, Kenny’s mother, set up the page on Wednesday.

The goal is to raise $15,000 through the website. As of Friday afternoon, $4,150 of the goal had been raised.

Donations may be made by going to the site at www.gofundme.com/help-kenny-kick-cancers-butt.

Also, Gaumer said they planned to start a card campaign for Kenny, and that anyone who is willing to send him an uplifting or funny card may send it to A Pathway to Healing Counseling Services, ATTN: Kenny Brownlee, 31 West First St. Unit 1, Wind Gap, PA 18091.

In addition, she said they started a Team Kenny Facebook page where everyone can follow his journey and stay up to date, with the option to leave him some supportive messages. Kenny has access to the page, and they planned to start a presale for Team Kenny T-shirts.

On Thursday morning, Gaumer said Kenny was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma, a form of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

“They said they could change his diagnosis to leukemia if they find cancer cells in his bone marrow,” she said.

Gaumer said they started his chemotherapy treatment Wednesday night, and after the chemotherapy, they’ll do dialysis for him, and he’ll be in the hospital for at least four weeks.

“They said it’s super treatable,” she said. “It’s a common type of cancer in children.”

Gaumer added, “He’s definitely scared, nervous, but he’s going to do his best to get through it.”

“He’s trying to keep a smile on his face, trying to stay upbeat as usual,” she said. “He was saying how he appreciates everyone’s support, and he’s thankful that he has so much help.”