Over the past few years, the Bengtson family has been through a series of health scares. Dana (mother) had to have brain surgery for Chiari malformation and the recovery period was brutally painful for her. Kris (father) was diagnosed with stage four tracheal cancer and had to have a massive tumor removed. He spent eleven days in a coma and then faced chemotherapy and radiation five days a week for ten weeks. Then their daughter Julia was diagnosed with Leukemia at the beginning of her Kindergarten year, forcing her mother to take a year of leave to stay home with her because her compromised immune system wouldn’t allow her to be around other people.
These difficulties have taken their toll on the family in many ways, but a bit of positive news is that Kris just received his fifth year of clean cancer screenings and is officially a cancer survivor. Julia’s treatments will be ongoing until April of 2024, but she still takes chemotherapy daily from home. She is facing issues that no 6-year-old should have to confront, but her strength is felt by her parents and all who know her. This family hopes to put all of these struggles behind them so they can focus on being a happy and healthy family.