How a wisdom tooth uncovered leukemia in a 21-year-old college athlete, and the sister who saved her
Sisters Kendall and Elle Schara are back on the collegiate volleyball court after a life-saving stem cell transplant at Northwestern Medicine
Chicago, IL – June 4, 2026 – Just three days before a volleyball match at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, the team’s captain, Kendall Schara, found out she had cancer.
“I spoke to a lot of my teammates that night,” said Schara. “I spoke to one in particular and told her, ‘I’m just so glad we got to play together for one last day.’”
In April 2025, the then 21-year-old from Crown Point, Ind., had her wisdom teeth removed. What was supposed to be a standard procedure developed into an infection at one of the surgical sites, the flu, and a rash of sudden health issues. A bone marrow biopsy would then reveal the cause of her symptoms -- Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
“I'll never forget the moment I was told I had cancer and having to ask the question, ‘what is my survival rate?’” said Schara. “I've been a relatively healthy person my whole life. I never had any problems until I had my wisdom teeth removed.”
An intensive treatment plan
Twenty-four hours after being diagnosed in Green Bay, Schara arrived at the Lurie Cancer Center at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago to begin treatment close to home.
Schara began a 24-hour chemotherapy drip and spent the next month at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. After completing chemo, she began preparing for a stem cell transplant to replace her diseased blood cells with healthy ones.
In the United States, 70% of patients do not have a relative who is a match and must look outside the family for a donor. Schara’s younger sisters, Marley Schara (20), and Elle Schara (18), both got tested. While Marley wasn’t eligible, Elle was a perfect match.
“Getting good news throughout all of this is something that keeps me on the positive side,” said Kendall. “Hearing that my sister was a perfect 12 out of 12 match, I was in shock. I didn’t think my sisters would be a match, let alone a perfect match.”
On July 29, 2025, Kendall underwent a successful stem cell transplant using Elle’s donor cells. Kehinde Akekola, MD, a hematology and medical oncology specialist at Lurie Cancer Center, says Kendall’s athleticism and positive attitude worked to her advantage.
“Kendall works hard and is incredibly strong both mentally and physically,” said Dr. Adekola. “Both her young age and the absence of other medical conditions played a big role in how quickly she recovered.”
Before her transplant, Kendall underwent fertility preservation with Kara Goldman, MD, medical director of fertility preservation at Northwestern Medicine, in the hopes of one day starting a family.
“Fertility preservation is a critical part of comprehensive cancer care,” said Dr. Goldman. “Infertility remains one of the most common complications of cancer treatment and all patients should have access to fertility preservation and the chance to build a family.”
Back on the court
Nearly one year after the transplant, Kendall is in remission. She returned to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in January 2026 and began practicing with her teammates.
“This semester had challenging moments, but watching the progress over the past few months makes it all worth it,” said Kendall. “I have grown so much mentally and physically, and I’m lucky to have my teammates right beside me.”
Meanwhile, Elle followed in her sister’s footsteps and began playing volleyball at Purdue University in Indiana. Through treatment and in sport, the girls are each other’s biggest fans.
“Not many people have gone through what Elle and I endured this past year,” said Kendall. I’m so grateful to call her my sister, my donor, and my best friend.”
Kendall’s volleyball season will begin in August, giving her a few more months of collegiate play before she graduates in December.
About Acute Myeloid Leukemia
About 22,000 adults are diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in the United States each year. This type of cancer causes bone marrow to produce abnormal blood cells, and if not treated, can quickly spread throughout the body. The average age for a diagnosis is 69 years old.
At Lurie Cancer Center, a multidisciplinary team specializes in the research and treatment of AML and other types of cancer.
For more information on cancer research and treatment, visit nm.org.
Contact
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Jen Delacruz Senior Specialist, Media Relations Northwestern Memorial Hospital Cardiovascular, Women's Health, Endocrinology, Human Longevity Clinic, Osher Center for Integrative Health, Primary Care, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) |