When McKenzie Covert was three years old, she began experiencing severe joint pain and fatigue, and started getting bruises on her chest and back. In September 2015, McKenzie was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a cancer of the bone marrow.
When McKenzie’s body did not respond as expected to treatment, doctors determined she was at high risk for relapse and prescribed more intense chemotherapy. Over the next 28 months, McKenzie received multiple rounds of oral, IV and spinal chemotherapy, steroids, antibiotics and transfusions.
The clinic visits were constant, and the hospital stays were numerous. Though the journey was challenging, the hospital and clinic staff became like extended family for the Coverts.
McKenzie is now a healthy 12-year-old and loves playing soccer and volleyball, hanging out with friends and shopping.
“She is a social butterfly,” her mother, Tiffany, says. “If you need any tips on skincare, she’s your girl! She’s sweet, sassy and definitely one-of-a-kind.”
As the 2025 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Champion for McLane Children’s, McKenzie will spend the year advocating for children’s healthcare and sharing the importance of donations to McLane Children’s.
