Family of six spends months in trailer to support transplant patient fighting cancer

Eleven years old, fighting cancer and dealing with unbearable pain, Neely Lucquete told her parents she was going to die. And all she wanted was her cat.

Don't worry; this story has a happy ending. But, back to the cat. Her name is Midnight. Midnight was in Austin, Texas, where Neely's family lives. The Lucquetes had been staying at the Ronald McDonald House while Neely underwent treatment for PTLD, a type of cancer that can impact transplant patients. The Ronald McDonald House doesn't allow pets, so her parents made a big decision. They were going to move the whole family of six, plus pets, into a trailer parked right at Nebraska Medical Center.

"We were trying to give Neely something to look forward to," says her mother, Kat Lucquete. "And the trailer was the only way to get Midnight closer."

The trailer and the whole Lucquete family made their home on Emile Street on March 18. Kat, and Neely's father, Josh, worked remotely from that parking lot. Neely's sisters and brother, Laney, Eilley and Renner, balanced schoolwork and took turns visiting Neely in her room. For Kat and Josh, it was clear this was where the whole family needed to be.

"We weren't sure if she was going to make it," Kat says. "I could either possibly regret interrupting school and work or regret us not being with Neely in her darkest hour. All I could think was family first and showing Neely that we are all in this together."

The Lucquetes were first referred to Nebraska Medical Center in July 2023 when Neely was in kidney and liver failure. She was originally listed for transplant in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

"Her brilliant GI doctor at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston recommended Nebraska," Kat explains. "Dr. (Kristin Whitfield) Van Buren felt pretty strongly, and she's never steered us wrong." 

Neely received a new liver, kidneys, pancreas and small and large intestines at Nebraska Medical Center a little more than a year ago.

"She made this amazing fast-track recovery post-transplant," says Kat. "Transplant was Aug. 4, and she was home by Nov. 4. Everything happened so fast from organ failure to transplant to home."

Settling back in at their home in Texas, the Lucquetes knew PTLD was a possibility down the road, but it happened quickly, diagnosed after Neely began vomiting uncontrollably just after the holidays. 

That takes us back to the beginning of the story, with Neely once again back in Omaha, fearing she was going to die. She didn't. She fought, while her family fought alongside her in that crowded trailer.

"An absolute warrior," is how Kat describes Neely. "She has no idea how strong she is."

"Neely was initially shy and took some time to warm up and for people to gain her trust," says Kellee Jindra, APRN-NP, Solid Organ Transplant. "Once she did, she would always have a joke to tell you or want to make you feel better."

Neely's care team believes the support from her family was essential in her recovery.

"She has amazing parents that remained at her bedside at all times, constantly giving her strength and motivation even when she did not feel well on certain days," Jindra says. "When her siblings came to Omaha, they included her in everything, and she wanted them around her."  

With Neely recovered, the Lucquetes were able to leave July 20, after 124 days the family spent praying, working and learning outside the med center, while Neely battled and healed inside. 

The Lucquetes wouldn't have had it any other way.

"The kids took it pretty well," Kat says. "I've come to understand that it's because this is all they've ever known. Chaos and craziness!" 

And the family even grew during Neely's treatment, adding a new kitten.

"Many times, when things were really tough for Neely, we'd talk about things to look forward to," Kat remembers. "A kitten was very high on the list. He or she would be named Nibbles"

Through a connection with the Ronald McDonald House, the Lucquetes learned about the therapy program, Horses Help. Horses Help helped the Luquetes find Neely her kitten after she was discharged, not long after her 12th birthday.

"We surprised Neely," Kat says. "She thought we were just exploring the city, but when we pulled up to a house in the country, she started to cry and said, 'Is this really happening?' She picked out her Nibbles, and we all adore her so much." 

The whole family, including Nibbles, is adjusting to life back in Austin.

"Being home is a little surreal," says Kat. "It's taking a bit longer to put home back together. For example, we still had the Christmas tree up! There's no place like home, but at the same time, home is wherever we are together. I admit I miss Omaha very much and am hoping we can move closer at some point." 

The Lucquetes are extraordinarily thankful for Neely's donor and for every colleague they encountered every day during her lengthy admission. 

"I think about our time in Omaha constantly, especially now at one year post-transplant," says Kat." There were some dark days, but the memories that pop up the most are all the special things that happened there. The staff came out to the trailer and sang Happy Birthday to her. The way her eyes would always light up for Child Life – the fun messes they made for that sliver of normalcy in her day. The tender and respectful way they shaved her head when she was ready. PT/OTs compassionate care for her. The way her care team, especially Kellee, thoughtfully allowed Neely to make her own choices whenever possible. This gave her Neely a sense of control and established a beautiful trust. The stuffed animal that was sneakily left on the bed by a nurse. There are so many stories; we could go on and on!"

A happy ending to a story that starts with a cat named Midnight ends with a kitten named Nibbles, and packs in a trailerful of memories along the way.