Written by Amy Miller

16-year-old Kaitlyn Clements of Louisville, KY leads a busy life. She loves soccer, and is an avid fan of LouCity FC, the local soccer league. When she isn’t attending games, she spends time building Legos to display in her room, staying active with her family’s church, and studying marine animals. Her dream is to attend Coastal Carolina University and to become a Marine Biologist.

But in November of 2025, Kaitlyn began experiencing symptoms that left her family concerned, including a fatigue that was out of the ordinary for the normally-energetic teenager. After a visit to urgent care, Kaitlyn was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia – a type of blood cancer.

After being diagnosed, Kaitlyn immediately started chemotherapy, steroids, radiation treatments and has been making regular hospital visits. Throughout her treatment, Kaitlyn has also received more than 25 blood or platelet transfusions.

Friends, family and the church community at St. John Paul II Parish have stood beside the Clements family throughout Kaitlyn’s treatment. In addition to local restaurant fundraisers benefiting Kaitlyn's treatments, the Clements host a recurring blood drive at the parish to encourage blood donations which can help patients facing medical challenges like hers.

“Our family is fully aware of the importance of blood donations,” said Chris Clements, Kaitlyn’s father.

Since Kaitlyn started treatment in 2025, the Clements have hosted 6 blood drives in Kaitlyn’s honor. Their most recent one surpassed its goal and collected 60 units of blood. Friends and family of the Clements have all showed up to roll up a sleeve in support of patients like Kaitlyn, including Kaitlyn’s grandmother, Cathy, and older brother, Ryan.

“The drives, the support, have been amazing. It makes you feel like you’re not alone in this journey,” said Cathy. Cathy began donating blood years before Kaitlyn’s diagnosis. Her dedication to giving back to patients in need is what inspired Ryan to make his first blood donation at one of the drives at St. John Paul II parish.

“I want to donate for as long as my grandma has donated,” said Ryan. “My sister has leukemia, The ability to help others, giving part of me to them, it’s very important to me.”

Every day, someone in our community may need blood. The Clements family encourages anyone who is able to donate blood and give back to patients in need.