Local 5-year-old battling leukemia rings the bell at Billings Clinic

After two and a half years battling leukemia, 5-year-old Owen Kinane of Greybull rang the bell at Billings Clinic on Thursday, Feb. 5. 

Owen, the son of Roman and Rebecca Kinane, was diagnosed with B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in September 2023 at 2 years old. Following a recurring fever that couldn’t be connected to any illness, Owen underwent bloodwork at Powell Valley Healthcare and was immediately transferred to the ER at Billings Clinic, which confirmed a high white blood cell count and low red blood cells. 

“There are no pediatric cancer treatment facilities in the state of Wyoming,” Rebecca said. “Any minors diagnosed with cancer must be treated out of state. Most Wyoming cancer kids go to Colorado, Utah, Montana or Washington, but others sometimes travel farther depending on their diagnosis.”

Owen was taken by ambulance to the Cody airport with his father, and the pair was life-flighted to Colorado. Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora ultimately diagnosed Owen and started his treatments: five weeks of induction, followed by the past couple years of treatment at Billings Clinic, including chemo, steroids and antibiotics. 

Rebecca reported that when Owen returned from Colorado, he could not walk at all. He relearned alongside his younger brother, Griffin, who had just turned 1. 

Along the way, the Kinanes saw community support. Rebecca thanked Tera Sanchez, who organized Owen’s cancer benefit in December 2023; Kids n Cowboys in Billings, and Jason’s Friends Foundation in Casper for their efforts to make Owen’s treatment easier on the family. She also thanked the Basin First Baptist Church and the larger community. 

“Whether you donated to Owen’s benefit, brought us meals, or simply prayed for us, we truly appreciate it,” Rebecca said. “Through it all, our family saw God’s grace. Owen handled treatment well, and we always had safe travels.”

 Owen is now in Survivor’s Clinic, or Survivorship, ending his chemo treatments. For the next five years, he will receive periodic blood draws to monitor for signs of relapse. 

“We ask that you continue to pray for him as his body heals from the chemo, and that he won’t relapse,” Rebecca said.