Latest news with #Mikaila
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Texas Girl, 17, Thought She Had a Swollen Lymph Node from a Cold. It Turned Out to Be Cancer
Texas teen Makaila Chenier has shared how what she thought was a swollen lymph node from a lingering cold turned out to be cancer The 17-year-old was diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma earlier this year 'It was just a little lump ... It was very hard because it was like everything changed literally overnight," Mikaila told the outletA teen from Texas is opening up about the moment she found out what she thought was a lump from a lingering cold was actually cancer. Makaila Chenier, 17, found a 'little lump' in her neck in January and thought it was a swollen lymph node, but after it 'got progressively bigger' and she had 'trouble breathing' when she was lying down, she ended visiting her doctor, according to She was referred to an ear, nose and throat doctor who told her to go to the emergency room, where she underwent a series of tests, including an ultrasound, X-ray and CT scan. 'There was definitely a sense of urgency that we picked up on very quickly in the appointments,' Mikaila's mom, Christina Chenier, told 'We knew something wasn't quite right.' It was there that doctors told Makaila they suspected she had lymphoma. 'Doctor said, 'It looks like it might be some sort of lymphoma,' ' Christina told the outlet. 'Hearing your kid may have cancer … it was a gut punch … All of a sudden we were playing a completely different game and everything was completely upside down.' From the ER, Makaila was transferred to Texas Children's Hospital in downtown Houston where she was diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma the very next day, beginning her first round of chemotherapy just over a week after visiting the ER. 'It was very hard because it was like everything changed literally overnight,' Mikaila, who undergoes chemotherapy every two weeks, told the outlet. 'It was just a little lump.' According to the Mayo Clinic, Lymphoma is 'a cancer of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is part of the body's germ-fighting and disease-fighting immune system. Lymphoma begins when healthy cells in the lymphatic system change and grow out of control.' There are two types of lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma (formerly called Hodgkin disease) and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and symptoms include a fever, night sweats and 'painless swelling of lymph nodes in the belly, neck, armpits or groin.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Mikaila is now homeschooled and has had to miss special occasions like prom. However, there was one milestone the teen didn't want to miss out on. 'They let me do graduation because that's once in a lifetime,' she told the outlet. She is expected to complete her treatment in August and plans to take a gap year before going to college. 'I've been staying really positive through it all and I've learned that really helps get through it because they say time flies when you're having fun,' Makaila said. 'I try to have as much fun as I can and make the best out of it, which has really helped.' Read the original article on People
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Texas Girl, 17, Thought She Had a Swollen Lymph Node from a Cold. It Turned Out to Be Cancer
Texas teen Makaila Chenier has shared how what she thought was a swollen lymph node from a lingering cold turned out to be cancer The 17-year-old was diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma earlier this year 'It was just a little lump ... It was very hard because it was like everything changed literally overnight," Mikaila told the outletA teen from Texas is opening up about the moment she found out what she thought was a lump from a lingering cold was actually cancer. Makaila Chenier, 17, found a 'little lump' in her neck in January and thought it was a swollen lymph node, but after it 'got progressively bigger' and she had 'trouble breathing' when she was lying down, she ended visiting her doctor, according to She was referred to an ear, nose and throat doctor who told her to go to the emergency room, where she underwent a series of tests, including an ultrasound, X-ray and CT scan. 'There was definitely a sense of urgency that we picked up on very quickly in the appointments,' Mikaila's mom, Christina Chenier, told 'We knew something wasn't quite right.' It was there that doctors told Makaila they suspected she had lymphoma. 'Doctor said, 'It looks like it might be some sort of lymphoma,' ' Christina told the outlet. 'Hearing your kid may have cancer … it was a gut punch … All of a sudden we were playing a completely different game and everything was completely upside down.' From the ER, Makaila was transferred to Texas Children's Hospital in downtown Houston where she was diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma the very next day, beginning her first round of chemotherapy just over a week after visiting the ER. 'It was very hard because it was like everything changed literally overnight,' Mikaila, who undergoes chemotherapy every two weeks, told the outlet. 'It was just a little lump.' According to the Mayo Clinic, Lymphoma is 'a cancer of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is part of the body's germ-fighting and disease-fighting immune system. Lymphoma begins when healthy cells in the lymphatic system change and grow out of control.' There are two types of lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma (formerly called Hodgkin disease) and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and symptoms include a fever, night sweats and 'painless swelling of lymph nodes in the belly, neck, armpits or groin.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Mikaila is now homeschooled and has had to miss special occasions like prom. However, there was one milestone the teen didn't want to miss out on. 'They let me do graduation because that's once in a lifetime,' she told the outlet. She is expected to complete her treatment in August and plans to take a gap year before going to college. 'I've been staying really positive through it all and I've learned that really helps get through it because they say time flies when you're having fun,' Makaila said. 'I try to have as much fun as I can and make the best out of it, which has really helped.' Read the original article on People
IOL News
12-05-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Body of KZN graduate brought home after she suffered cardiac arrest in India
MOURNERS offer their respects to Dr Mikaila Chetty at her funeral in Durban on Saturday. TWO months ago, former Durban woman Mikaila Chetty achieved her dream of being called 'doctor' when she graduated with her PhD in Forensic Toxicology. However, Chetty, 28, who was living in Delhi, India, died after she suffered cardiac arrest on April 18. Her body arrived in South Africa on Friday and her funeral took place at the Clare Estate Crematorium on Saturday. Speaking to the POST, her aunt Vanitha Moodley said Chetty's sudden death had devastated them. 'How do we begin to say goodbye to someone whose presence was as vibrant and vital as the colours of Holi? Mikaila was someone who, even in her silence, lit up every space she entered.' Moodley said Chetty, formerly of Glenwood, together with her mother, Priscilla, and elder sister, Yovana, had relocated to India about 13 years ago. 'At the time, Mikaila was still in high school. However, she was such a brilliant child that she had even skipped two grades. When they relocated, she attended Podar International School, in Mumbai, which is affiliated to Cambridge University, and completed her A-levels. 'She achieved academic excellence and received a scholarship from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) to further her studies. She graduated with her Bachelors degree in Biotechnology at the Burdwan University in Kolkata, and thereafter her Master's degree in Zoology at Goa University. 'But she still wanted to achieve her dream of becoming 'Dr Mikaila Chetty', and pursued her PhD in Forensic Toxicology at the prestigious National Forensic Sciences University in Gujarat. Over the past few years, she gathered not just degrees, but knowledge, perspective and an ever-widening circle of people who admired and adored her. She also did all of this with determination, and carved her name into the world of science and service,' she said. Moodley said the family were informed of her passing while preparing for her maternal grandmother's one-year memorial service. 'At the time, Mikaila's mother, who is my elder sister, was in South Africa, as we were preparing for our mother's memorial which was going to be held on May 1. Mikaila was living in an apartment in a building for female students in Delhi. However, on that day, my sister could not get hold of her, so she contacted the landlord requesting for someone to check on her. Sadly, she was found unresponsive in her apartment. 'My sister and I flew to India the following day as we needed to identify her. We were left heartbroken when we saw our child. A post-mortem confirmed she suffered cardiac arrest. 'We were shocked as she lived a healthy lifestyle. While cleaning out her apartment, we saw all of her food – healthy items including vegetables, fruit and even her salad prep for the week. From everyone we spoke to, they said Mikaila went for a run every day, and never took a rickshaw. She preferred walking. So, we are shocked at her passing. 'What also overwhelmed me is that single person I met, from professors, colleagues, students, friends, even the cleaning staff and drivers at Mikaila's university, had only glowing things to say about her, such as 'Mikaila mam helped me', 'Mikaila didi listened and never judged', and 'She made my day better',' she said. Moodley added that not even in their worst nightmares, did they think that Chetty would one day need a forensic autopsy. 'She, who had studied death to help the living, became the subject of the very field she mastered. More so, her post-mortem was conducted by a professor who had once proudly taught her how to perform post-mortems and the results were tested at her very own university. The heartbreak of that is something words would never fully capture.' Moodley said she had last spoken to Chetty a few days before her passing. 'We are both quite busy in our lives, but we would make sure to do a weekly call to catch-up. When we spoke, she was perfectly healthy and was preparing for the G20. Mikaila was very involved in foreign relations and worked closely with the ICCR. She was also closely associated with the South African High Commission in New Delhi and the Indian Consulate in Durban. She took an interest in anything that involved relations between South Africa and India. 'Mikaila was also looking forward to moving to Australia to start a new job. However, she was first going to take a bit of a break and go on holiday to Bali,' she said. Moodley added that Chetty lived a life of 'purpose and impact'. 'Even as a little girl, Mikaila stood out – a simple, loving child with a quiet strength. She was deeply independent from a young age, wise beyond her years, and remarkably self-motivated. She didn't need to be pushed; she had a natural drive that set her apart. 'Mikaila was also incredibly close to her grandparents and her aunts – a true family girl who soaked up their love and wisdom with quiet gratitude. Whether she was playing in the garden or helping in the kitchen, she had this calm presence that made you want to draw closer. 'She may be gone from this physical world, but her light, work and love will all live on,' she said. The POST
