Community Corner
SLP's Keller is Leukemia-Free
The former St. Louis Park baseball player has been in and out of hospitals in recent months battling the disease.
Derrick Keller is leukemia-free, his family is reporting via CaringBridge.
If you haven't been following his story, Keller is a former baseball player who was diagnosed with the disease last summer, as he was playing town ball following his senior year at the high school.
“I was in shock,” Keller said. “I’ve been healthy all my life. How could this happen to me?”
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Rather than let the diagnosis get him down, Keller took on an aggressive, fighter's mentality. The motto around town became "Help DK KO Luke," a nod to Keller's father having a history in boxing.
Keller kept battling, and despite a slew of hospital visits, he kept improving. His family posted the following on CaringBridge last night after his latest big step:
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The best news I have ever received. There is no leukemia. Praise the Lord!!
And Keller is also back at home:
Derrick made the 48 hours with no fever, and tonight they let him come home. We have a meeting with the doctors tomorrow. They are going to let us know what the plan is, moving forward.
It's been great to see this community rally around this kid, from a benefit last fall to Linnea Donahue selling Keller T-shirts to raise money for the family. And his former Oriole teammates had "DK #15" inscribed on their hats this season.
Best of luck moving forward, Derrick, and keep battling all obstacles that life throws at you.
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