‘Karing for Kycen’ fundraisers to benefit Plano 1-year-old, family

PLANO – A pair of fundraisers are planned for a 1-year-old from Plano diagnosed with Opsoclonus Myoclonus Syndrome, or OMS.

Kycen Schimandle began having difficulties at just four months old, and spent weeks at a time in the hospital while medical professionals tried to solve the problem, according to his dad, Justin Schimandle.

At one point, Kycen was diagnosed with a different disorder, but when new symptoms arose – including the discovery of a mass – he was diagnosed with OMS. This past May, Kycen underwent surgery to remove the mass, which ended up being ganglioneuroblastoma – a tumor that has both malignant and benign parts, according to the American Cancer Society website, cancer.org.

Justin Schimandle and Kycen’s mom, Stephanie Kaspar, have exhausted their savings, vacation and sick days, as bills for Kycen’s frequent visits to the ER and a necessary hospital stay every three weeks have began to mount. Schimandle and Kaspar both work as teachers, and have two more sons, Kolton and Kaiden.

“He currently has three to four appointments per week, including infusions, therapy and doctor appointments, that has made life difficult causing my wife and I to miss quite a bit of work in the last year,” Justin Schimandle said. “We have gotten by with lots of help from family and close friends; between helping with our two older boys as well as many other heartfelt gestures.”

Justin – a 2000 Plano graduate – and Stephanie also spend a lot of time coaching youth sports in the village, including PYAA baseball, the Lil Reaper Wrestling Club, Plano Youth Tackle Football and basketball at the Plano YMCA.

“We try to stay involved with the community and volunteer as much as possible,” he said.

A pair of fundraisers will look to raise funds for the family.

On Saturday, July 23, Karing for Kycen will take place from 2 to 11:30 p.m. at the F. V. Kickers Club, 1015 Harvey Road, Oswego. The event will include music, food, games, raffles and more. Chuggo the Clown will also make an appearance. A $10 donation is asked, with children under 12 free.

“Rick Smith and Heather Channell heard of Kycen’s situation and set the whole thing up,” Justin said. “They are doing this purely out of the kindness of their hearts, with no benefit to themselves.”

A week later on Saturday, July 30, a no-limit Texas Hold ‘em tournament called Kards 4 Kycen will take place at the St. George Citizen Club, 667 Sheridan Ave., Aurora. Registration is from 4 until 4:45 p.m., and first deal is at 5 p.m. The Hold ‘em tournament has a $25 buy-in, and an extra 1,000 in chips is $5. During the first two hours, there are $25 re-buys. Pizza will be available for all tournament players. Cash side games will also be available until midnight, and the event will also include a 50/50 raffle and side bet pools. For information on the poker tournament, email edward.marek@sbcglobal.net.

Proceeds from both fundraisers will directly benefit the Karing for Kycen medical fund. Those interested in making a donation can also visit GoFundMe.com/karingforkycen.

“The support has been unbelievable,” Justin said.