Teenage cancer patient’s final fight becomes law as House passes landmark pediatric bill
In a poignant tribute to a courageous young advocate, the House of Representatives has passed a significant piece of legislation known as the Mikaela Naylon Give Kids A Chance Act. This bill honors the legacy of Mikaela Naylon, who, at just 16 years old, lost her battle with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. For five years, Mikaela not only fought her illness but also dedicated her time to advocating for other children facing similar challenges. Representative Michael McCaul, R-Texas, who played a pivotal role in driving this legislation forward, described Mikaela as a shining example of resilience and determination, noting that even during her most difficult days of treatment, she made the effort to come to Washington and champion the cause for pediatric cancer patients.
The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids A Chance Act aims to improve access to cancer therapy trials for children and incentivizes the development of new treatments for pediatric cancer. The legislation reauthorizes funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support research into pediatric diseases through fiscal year 2027 and enhances the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) ability to expedite the review process for drugs targeting specific pediatric illnesses. This bill received unanimous support in the House, with both parties coming together to recognize the urgent need for improved treatment options for children with cancer. Mikaela’s family, who attended the session to witness the bill’s passage, expressed their pride in her legacy being honored through this vital legislation, emphasizing her belief that all children deserve access to promising treatments, regardless of the rarity of their diagnoses.
Mikaela’s parents, Kassandra and Doug Naylon, along with her brother Ayden, reflected on her unwavering hope and determination to make the world a better place for future generations of children battling cancer. They expressed gratitude towards Rep. McCaul and other lawmakers, such as Reps. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., and Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., for their commitment to ensuring Mikaela’s voice and those of many brave children like her are heard in Congress. The Naylon family’s heartfelt message underlines the importance of this legislation not only as a legislative achievement but as a beacon of hope for countless families affected by childhood cancer. The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids A Chance Act stands as a testament to the power of advocacy, compassion, and the enduring spirit of a young girl who sought to change the world for the better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfA1Rxobwxg
A teenage girl who spent her final years advocating for young people
battling cancer
is forever memorialized in history, thanks to a key bill passed by the House of Representatives.
Mikaela Naylon was just 16 when she died five years after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer.
Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, who helped lead the landmark legislation that became her namesake, said Mikaela spent much of that time fighting to give fellow children a chance to survive cancer.
He told Fox News Digital that he viewed childhood cancer patients as “the best advocates” for their cause, calling them his “better angels.”
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“Mikaela was a great example of that,” McCaul said. “She was very sick. She’d just undergone radiation and chemotherapy. She wasn’t feeling very well, and I could tell. But she still made the effort to come to Washington, to go to members’ offices and advocate for the legislation.”
The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids A Chance Act is aimed at expanding children’s access to existing cancer therapy trials, as well as incentivizing development of treatments and solutions for pediatric cancer.
It reauthorizes funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support pediatric disease research through fiscal year 2027, and extends the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) ability to expedite review of drugs aimed at helping certain pediatric illnesses.
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“It’s probably one of the most rewarding things I’ve done is to not only draw awareness to childhood cancer by forming the [Childhood Cancer Caucus] and then having an annual summit, but to be able to pass legislation that results in saving children’s lives. I don’t think there’s anything more important than that,” McCaul said.
His bill passed the House unanimously on Monday, with both Republicans and Democrats speaking out in strong support for the legislation.
Mikaela’s family was in attendance to watch both its passage and the speeches lawmakers gave in favor of it.
“Nothing will take the place of her. But it helped fill kind of a void, an emptiness they have right now. And they’re very proud of that, that her legacy is carried on through this legislation,” McCaul, who also gave the Naylon family a tour of the U.S. Capitol, said.
Mikaela’s parents Kassandra and Doug, and her brother Ayden, told Fox News Digital that she had “faced every day with hope, purpose and a fierce determination to make the world better for the kids who would come after her.”
“She believed that
all children
, no matter how rare their diagnosis, deserve access to the most promising treatments and a real chance at life. This legislation reflects that mission,” the Naylon family told Fox News Digital.
They thanked McCaul as well as Reps. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., and Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., for championing the bill, as well as advocacy groups who also helped shepherd it forward.
“Their commitment ensures that Mikaela‘s voice, and the voices of so many brave children like her, will forever be heard in the halls of Congress,” the family said.
