New Procedure to Preserve Testicular Tissue Gives Keaton Hope for a Future Family

When McKena Peck’s son, Keaton, was diagnosed with leukemia at age 4, her world turned upside down. The family from Enid, Oklahoma, rushed through doctors’ appointments and treatments. But one question kept coming back to McKena: Would her son ever be able to have children of his own someday?

Thanks to a new procedure at OU Health, Keaton now has that chance. OU Health, the University of Oklahoma’s academic health system, is the first and only health system in Oklahoma to offer testicular tissue preservation for young boys facing cancer treatment. This procedure saves tissue that could one day help these boys become fathers.

“Ever since I can remember him speaking, my son has talked about wanting to be a parent,” McKena said. “I knew this was the right thing for him.”

Saving for the Future

Cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation often cause permanent sterility. While adult men can bank sperm before treatment, prepubescent boys do not yet produce viable sperm, leaving them without potential preservation options — until now.

“When this happens to a 5-year-old it poses a significant risk to their future fertility,” said OU Health urologist Dr. John Doolittle, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Urology at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. “This procedure offers them the possibility of having a biological child in the future.”

Testicular tissue preservation involves taking a small piece of testicular tissue through a biopsy performed while the child is under anesthesia. The tissue is then sent to the University of Pittsburgh, one of a few labs in the country that can preserve this type of tissue. While techniques to mature preserved testicular tissue into functional sperm are still in development, scientists aim to use this tissue to generate sperm outside the body in the future or, if appropriate, transplant it back into the patient to restore fertility.

Keaton’s Journey

Keaton’s cancer journey has been long and difficult. When he was diagnosed, his white blood cell count was 895,000 — far higher than normal — and 98 percent of his blood was cancer cells. Doctors discovered more than 11 brain bleeds. He spent days on a breathing machine, and he lost movement on his right side for a time.

But this brave little boy never gave up and achieved remission within four weeks. When his cancer came back, he underwent a bone marrow transplant at Oklahoma Children’s OU Health.

Before his most intense treatments, the team at OU Health made sure to preserve Keaton’s testicular tissue. The procedure was quick and easy.

“He healed up really fast from that procedure,” McKena said. “It’s a tiny, tiny scar you can’t even see at all.”

A Team Effort

Dr. Doolittle works alongside reproductive medicine partners Dr. Heather Burks, M.D., associate professor in the Section of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, and pediatric and adolescent gynecologist Dr. Lisa Moon, M.D., FACOG, as part of OU Health’s comprehensive reproductive medicine program. The team works closely with pediatric cancer specialists to identify patients who may benefit from this option.

“We’re fortunate to have experts here who are motivated to offer Oklahomans what is available in national markets,” Dr. Doolittle said. “That speaks to the caring nature of the providers we have here. Families have the same access to care as anyone else in America.”

The introduction of testicular tissue preservation complements OU Health’s existing programs to protect fertility for patients of all ages. In 2024, OU Health became the first in Oklahoma to offer ovarian tissue preservation for women and girls facing similar challenges. For adult men with fertility challenges, a similar testicular tissue preservation procedure is already standard practice.

Spreading the Word

McKena wants other families to know this option exists. She believes parents deserve to know about fertility preservation before it’s too late.

“I feel responsible for getting the word out to other parents who want the option for their kids to have babies,” McKena said.

As for Keaton’s future, McKena has simple hopes for her son.

“I just really hope that he gets healthier and healthier every day,” she said. “He’s definitely inspiring — that’s for sure.”

Expanding Access and Support for Families

The Michelle Hastings Fertility Preservation Fund through the OU Foundation helps make preservation procedures more accessible to patients and families, so cost is never a barrier to hope for the future.

For more information about fertility preservation options and reproductive medicine, including testicular cryopreservation, contact OU Health Physicians Reproductive Endocrinology at (572) 244-0203.