Columbia Falls student fighting cancer returns home

Kimberly Peacock returned home in style last Thursday after undergoing chemotherapy treatment for Leukemia in Denver. The Columbia Falls High School sophomore exited a private jet with the help of her mother and an AeroAngel volunteer, falling into her father’s arms for a tearful embrace.

It was the first time her feet had touched Montana soil in a month.

Kimberly was able to travel home free of charge thanks to AeroAngel, a Denver-based nonprofit that provides no-cost air travel to people who can’t fly commercially for medical reasons. AeroAngel leases aircraft which are flown by volunteer pilots who provide around 10 flights per year.

The chemotherapy weakened Kimberly’s immune system to the point that any infection could be life-threatening, so a commercial flight wasn’t an option.

“I have a passion for flying and just to help folks out that are struggling … just to help them along their journey,” said AeroAngel founder Mark Pestal.

Between fuel costs, personnel and the jet itself, Pestal estimated the cost of Thursday’s journey at $12,000.

Peacock was diagnosed with Leukemia earlier this summer after feeling poorly for a number of weeks, her father Jim said, as he awaited her arrival at Glacier Jet Center. Based on her symptoms of fatigue and swollen lymph nodes, the family presumed Kimberly would walk away with a mono diagnosis.

But a single blood test showed something much more serious: the top runner had acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

“She goes from church camp to being told she has Leukemia in a couple hours,” Jim said.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a type of blood cancer that affects bone marrow and white blood cells. And while it is the most common type of childhood cancer, the disease is rare with fewer than 200,000 cases reported in the U.S. each year, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Kimberly was diagnosed on a Friday, and boarded a plane to Denver that Sunday, bound for the Children’s Hospital of Colorado in Denver. There she underwent chemotherapy which took a toll on her body and caused her to suffer from chemo-induced diabetes. She also lost 20 pounds in less than a week during her treatment, Jim said.

Jim said the running community was a huge support throughout his daughter’s treatment. She received care packages, letters and photos from runners across the state from Whitefish and Hamilton to Frenchtown and Corvallis.

“I can’t articulate how amazed I am with people that stepped up to look after this little girl,” Jim said.

The day after Kimberly arrived in Denver, mail began pouring in and “every day was like Christmas.” She was never alone, he added.

“I’ve been completely overwhelmed,” Jim said. “I’ve cried more from people reaching out than over Kimberly’s situation.”

A friend in the running community, Doug Martin, even connected the Peacocks to AeroAngel, which allowed Kimberly to come home and limit the risk of infection.

Kimberly is the third Columbia Falls student to be diagnosed with cancer in the past two years. Football player Gabby DeLorme was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2015 and spent approximately one year in Seattle undergoing treatment before returning in 2016. Paxton Fisher, 18, a soccer player, died from adenocarcinoma in April after being diagnosed that February.

Jim said his daughter won’t be playing basketball this year, but hopes to participate in track which begins the second week in March. Kimberly will continue chemotherapy at Kalispell Regional Medical Center for the next three years.

Kimberly’s great aunt, Jan Von Lindern, said she’s noticed a marked improvement in Kimberly’s health since she’s returned home.

“It’s going to take time. I saw her Sunday afternoon for the first time since Thursday and I couldn’t get over the difference — she’s doing much better, feeling much better,” Von Lindern said. “Being at home can do a lot for you.”

Chris Peterson with the Hungry Horse News contributed to this report. Reporter Mackenzie Reiss may be reached at 758-4433 or mreiss@dailyinterlake.com.