Kylie's Kids: Meet Parker
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- There are a lot of adults calling the shots in children's hospitals, but there is also a group of kids, all former patients who also help shape the hospital's practices.
One of those is Kylie's Kid, Parker. The 11-year-old has already beat cancer and now he's working to make sure other kids have a great hospital experience, too.
"I had it in my legs, my bones, everywhere," Parker said.
Parker was 6 years old when he found out he had Burkitt's Lymphoma.
"I had two big lumps on my neck," Parker said.
Swollen lymph nodes and a lot of pain brought him to Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota.
"If I moved my finger that much my whole body would hurt," Parker said. "I didn't know what to do so we went to hospital as fast as we could."
Despite how far the cancer had spread, it only took Parker six months to beat it. It helped having his brother and best friend, Keaton, close by.
Parker and Keaton are only a year apart and Keaton stayed by Parker's side through his hospital stay.
"I could always talk to him about things that my parents wouldn't understand, like videogames mostly," Parker said.
"We like to play video games together," said Keaton.
Keaton even cut off his hair to support his little brother. Now the two run triathlons to help other kids with cancer.
Parker is also on Children's Youth Advisory Council. He meets with other former patients to make the hospital a better place for kids.
"Because if it was just adults who hadn't had cancer they wouldn't know what it was like," said Parker.
And if someone needs a little inspiration, Parker may be just the guy.
"That cancer is kind of difficult, but if it works out it's going to be great afterwards," Parker said.
