- January 4, 2025
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At 2 years old, Kaeleigh Webb already is making an impact in the community.
When she was diagnosed with cancer, a nurse told her parents, Molly McLaughlin and Kenny Webb, that the experience would inspire them to invent something or find a way to help others.
It did.
Last year, McLaughlin and Webb created a nonprofit named Kaeleigh’s Coalition. “It’s All About Kaeleigh” Golf Tournament at Cypress Head Golf Club in Port Orange was their first event, and it nearly sold out.
“It shows that there are good people in the world and that they can come together in a time of need,” Webb said.
They’re hosting the event again on Sept. 29 at Cypress Head, 6231 Palm Vista St. Anyone interested in the tournament can register at cypressheadgolf.com/kaeleigh.
Money raised at the tournament last year helped pay for Kaeleigh’s medical bills, and it helped the family get back on track after McLaughlin and Webb were out of work for a month while Kaeleigh was in the hospital.
This year, they will donate the money to a family whose child was recently diagnosed.
“We know what that family is going through, and this is our way of paying it forward,” McLaughlin said.
Kaeleigh was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a fast-growing cancer of the blood and bone marrow, when she was 9 months old. She and her brother Kaden were sick, and Kaeleigh was not recovering as quickly. Lumps also began growing like a “dinosaur tail” from the nape of her neck down her back.
One sleepless night, McLaughlin took Kaeleigh to the emergency room. Physicians found abnormalities in Kaeleigh's blood sample and transported her to Florida Hospital for Children in Orlando. Within 15 minutes, physicians told them Kaeleigh’s diagnosis.
They didn’t leave the hospital for about a month.
“It’s a lottery you don’t want to win,” Webb said.
The good news was that Kaeleigh's diagnosis was low-risk.
Children younger than 10 years old have a lower white blood cell count, and they receive lower doses of cancer treatments, according to the National Cancer Institute.
However, she wasn’t in the clear yet. Kaeleigh’s prognosis depended on how quickly and how low her leukemia cells dropped after the first month of treatment. If she responded well, she could go home. If not, she’d need more treatment and possibly a bone marrow transplant.
Fortunately, Kaeleigh responded well, and the family left the hospital in time for Christmas.
“She handled it like a champ,” McLaughlin said.
Now, Kaeleigh is 2. Treatment will end in November, and she’ll soon only need a check-up once every three months instead of monthly.
She is a “spunky” toddler with vibrant, red curls and an extensive vocabulary.
“We know what that family is going through, and this is our way of paying it forward."
MollyMcLaughlin, Kaeleigh's mother
McLaughlin said her family became closer after Kaeleigh's diagnosis, and they made friends with families in similar situations where they live in Palm Coast and also in Ormond Beach, Port Orange and Orlando.
They hope that support continues to come in as Kaeleigh and other children fight cancer.
“We want to help as many children as we can,” Webb said.
