Shadle Park’s Maya Burnette Thrives After Cancer Diagnosis

Maya Burnette’s path back to Shadle Park volleyball began after months of worsening health. Last fall, coach Brooke Meyer noticed the then-junior libero was frequently ill, exhausted and missing practices. Maya still played in the season finale, but an emergency room visit afterward led to a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia, an aggressive cancer affecting the blood and bone marrow.

The warning signs had appeared near the close of the previous summer, when Maya struggled to run a mile despite also being a track and field athlete. Her mother, Kamilah, initially considered whether asthma might explain the problem. Once school resumed, however, Maya remained fatigued and experienced repeated infections despite multiple doctor visits. She ultimately completed five chemotherapy rounds during nearly nine months filled with appointments, hospital stays and treatment.

Friends, relatives, classmates and Kamilah’s colleagues supported Maya throughout treatment. Together, they folded 1,000 paper cranes associated with a Japanese healing tradition. Kamilah assembled the cranes in strands, finishing around Christmas so Maya could receive them and make a wish. In May, Maya learned she was in remission and rang the hospital bell marking the end of treatment. She has since resumed volleyball as a defensive specialist and is helping the Highlanders pursue a district tournament berth during Meyer’s final season as head coach. Next week, Maya will visit New York City through Make-A-Wish with Kamilah, Chris, Nathan and the rest of their family group. Plans include sightseeing, a Broadway production, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and shopping.