Kendall Schara leukemia news has stunned two college communities after a routine dental visit led to a life-changing diagnosis.
Kendall Schara, a 21-year-old volleyball player at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, was finishing her spring season when she went to have her wisdom teeth removed. What started as a dental procedure soon turned into urgent medical visits, severe pain, and a diagnosis no college athlete expected.
Schara, a former Crown Point High School volleyball standout from Indiana, first had complications after taking antibiotics. She later went to urgent care in Green Bay, where doctors tested her for COVID-19, flu, and strep throat. The test came back positive for Influenza A.
But her condition got worse. She then went to the emergency room after developing abdominal pain, according to her family’s account shared with WGN News and later reported by Yahoo News.
From Dental Surgery to a Bone Marrow Biopsy
Schara’s mother, Shelley Schara, said doctors first thought Kendall might need her gallbladder removed. A test later showed there was no blockage. That led doctors to keep searching for answers.
Schara underwent a bone marrow biopsy on April 24, 2025. The next day, she learned she had acute myeloid leukemia, also known as AML.
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Athletics Department confirmed on April 28, 2025, that Schara had been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and had started treatment. The school said she was expected to remain in the hospital for at least five weeks. The official announcement can be read on the Green Bay Phoenix athletics website.
“You’re heartbroken and you question how this could happen to your child,” Shelley Schara told WGN News. “Then you kick into survival and fight mode to keep her positive.”
A Young Athlete Facing Acute Myeloid Leukemia
AML is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. The National Cancer Institute says AML can progress quickly without treatment and may affect red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
Schara’s diagnosis shocked her because she had built her life around sports, school, and competition. She had played volleyball since childhood and helped Crown Point win a sectional championship. She also earned all-conference honors in the Duneland Athletic Conference in 2020 and 2021.
“It’s someone no one expects to go through at 21 and it’s still something so hard to wrap my mind around, cancer,” Schara told WGN News. “But to be able to come home and lean back on people I haven’t seen in awhile, they’re always going to be here for me.”
Green Bay Volleyball Rallies Around Schara
Schara’s Green Bay teammates and coaches quickly stepped forward to support her. Head coach Abbey Sutherland praised Schara’s leadership, work ethic, and personality in the school’s official statement.
“Kendall has made a huge impact on Green Bay Volleyball and our surrounding community,” Sutherland said. “She is the hardest working player in the weight room and she always pushes her teammates to challenge themselves.”
Sutherland also called Schara talented, honest, smart, and strong. “Kendall, we love you and believe in you,” she said. “You are special and you are strong. Our athletic department and team will support you every step of the way.”
That support has reached far beyond the university. Crown Point friends, former teammates, coaches, and neighbors have also rallied around the Schara family.
Family Turns to Treatment and Donor Testing
Schara has been receiving chemotherapy at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, according to family updates reported by WGN News. Her next step is expected to involve stem cell treatment.
The American Cancer Society explains that a stem cell transplant can allow doctors to use higher doses of treatment for some AML patients. The treatment replaces damaged bone marrow with healthy blood-forming stem cells. More information is available from the American Cancer Society.
Schara’s family has already started looking for a match. Her two younger sisters volunteered to be tested as possible stem cell donors, her mother said.
A GoFundMe created by Alison Duncan, Schara’s former Crown Point High School volleyball coach, says the money raised will help with medical costs, travel, lodging, supportive care, and daily living expenses. The fundraiser describes Schara as a former Crown Point standout and current Green Bay volleyball player fighting AML.
A Community Response Built on Love
The Schara family says the response has been overwhelming. Shelley Schara said Crown Point has supported them with calls, texts, letters, visitors, meals, and prayers.
“It’s amazing to see the community come together and help during a time like this,” Shelley said.
Schara has also found comfort in visits from Green Bay and Crown Point supporters. Even inside the hospital, she has kept part of her humor.
“I have visitors every single day,” Schara told WGN News. “Green Bay people, Crown Point people. Having a Roku here is life saving.”
Why Kendall Schara’s Story Is Spreading
Schara’s story has touched people because it began with something ordinary. A wisdom tooth visit led to complications, testing, an emergency room visit, and then a cancer diagnosis.
Her case also shows how fast life can change for a young athlete. One week, she was part of a college volleyball program preparing for the future. The next, she was starting treatment and leaning on the people who had watched her grow.
For now, Schara’s fight continues with her family, teammates, coaches, and community around her. Their message is simple. Kendall is not facing leukemia alone.::contentReference{index=0}