Kelsey Rae Lee was 14 in 2004 when her whole world was changed by one word..l "Cancer". She went from being a bright, athletic girl from Evansdale who played softball and volleyball to being a "Patient" at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Kelsey's cancer was a rare form called Synovial Cell Sarcoma Stage IV. She was treated with chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. We thought she was cured but in 2006 she developed Leukemia from her chemotherapy and had to have a Bone Marrow Transplant. In 2008 Kelsey's tumors in her lungs returned and we were told she no longer had any chance for a cure. This news was devastating to all of us but Kelsey never gave up on life. She didn't want anyone to treat her differently so she chose to tell only a very few people. Instead of waiting to die, Kelsey continued to LIVE. One of her favorite quotes was: "Dream as if you'll live forever, Live as if you'll die tomorrow".

Kelsey passed away on December 31, 2011.

Throughout her treatments she attended Waterloo East High when she could, graduating in the top 10% of her class in 2008. She was the Yearbook Editor, Prom Queen and she volunteered at many school events. She worked part time for the Waterloo Softball Association and the Waterloo Schools, volunteered at the Covenant Medical Center and was a mentor at Bunger Middle School. Kelsey helped to coach her niece's T-Ball team and was the manager of her family's Co-Ed softball team. In 2010 she graduated from Hawkeye Community College's Medical Secretary Program. Kelsey wasn't able to reach her goal of visiting every state in the USA but she did travel to New York City, Las Vegas, Colorado, Arizona and the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore and Cozumel, Mexico.

Kelsey enjoyed shopping, especially for big purses and for presents for her nieces and nephews. She also enjoyed going to Blackhawk Hockey games, MMA fights, watching softball, hanging out with friends and cheering for The Steelers and the Hawkeyes.

Kelsey's family would like to say Thank you to everyone involved in this special event, far too numerous to try to list... THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts!