KIDS WITH COURAGE: Rhett Carroll

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – KTTC’s March Kid With Courage from Preston marked a significant milestone recently—three years in remission from cancer.

Rhett Carroll, 8, loves to play with LEGO sets.

“I built him with my own pieces!” Rhett said, as he showed off one of his sets.

He got a lot of practice when he was in the hospital.

His medical journey began in August 2021.

“It was about two weeks before his fifth birthday,” recalled Rhett’s mom Kayla Carroll. “I noticed a big bulge on his left side.”

Kayla loaded up Rhett and took him to the ER in Cresco.

Doctors knew pretty much immediately that it was cancer.

“He was the healthiest little boy. I think he had maybe one ear infection up until that day,” Kayla said.

Kayla called her husband, Bob, when doctors made the decision to send him to Mayo Clinic.

“It felt like, you know, 10 hours you’re running the worst-case scenario you had the entire time. It was awful,” Bob said.

Mayo Clinic Pediatric Surgeon Dr. Stephanie Polites was part of Rhett’s care team.

“He was diagnosed with a rare condition, metastatic rhabdoid tumor of the kidney,” she explained.

Treatment included chemotherapy, radiation, and multiple procedures.

“The biggest surgery he had was the surgery to remove the kidney tumor, and it was a long surgery,” Dr. Polites said.

He also underwent a bone marrow transplant. Coincidentally, Rhett’s older brother also had a medical procedure the same day.

Throughout treatment, Rhett’s care team and parents were in awe of his attitude.

“He’s just upbeat all the time. He always tries to see the positive,” Bob said.

“I mean, even on the really, really sick days, he still found joy in something,” Kayla said.

“He inspired our whole team,” Dr. Polites said.

Rhett was able to come home on Christmas eve.

These days, Rhett keeps busy with his LEGO sets, school, and running around his family farm.

February marked three years in remission for this Kid With Courage.

“I’ve been through a lot,” Rhett said.

If you know a Kid With Courage Caitlin should meet, email her at [email protected]

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