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On the tender age of 4, Charley Myers is a warrior and the battle he’s combating is leukemia.
At first look, you’d by no means discover something completely different about him apart from an infectious smile that may soften your coronary heart.
It began with Charley’s back-to-school bodily in August and the examination included bloodwork.
“Fortunately, our physician does bloodwork on all the youngsters every time we go in and his numbers got here again very low that day they usually known as us instantly and had us retest the following day,” stated Alissa Myers, Charley’s mother. “The subsequent day, the numbers had been nonetheless very low, in order that they despatched us to the emergency room at Toledo Kids’s straight away.”
Charley was admitted to the hospital and the following day he was recognized with leukemia. The next 24 hours included having a port implanted in his chest in order that drugs might be delivered together with a bone marrow biopsy and a spinal lumbar puncture. Charley additionally acquired his first chemotherapy therapy. He returned house seven days later.
“One other set off they may see in youngsters is they may begin to bruise and be fatigued,” added Chad Myers, Charley’s dad. “However he’s a 4-year-old that runs round so likelihood is he’s going to have some bruises.”
“We had been in full shock,” is the way in which Alissa described listening to the prognosis. “We had an entire summer season considering he was high quality. Only a 4-year-old boy doing all the conventional issues we might do through the summer season,” she stated.
The household of 5 had just lately returned from an Alpena journey with Chad’s household and had been making ready for a brand new faculty yr.
“We got here house Thursday. Went to the physician on Monday and on Wednesday he was recognized,” Chad stated. “It was tough. They instructed us Tuesday evening the possibilities of him having it was very doubtless, however they couldn’t affirm it till the following morning.”
With out the blood take a look at, the Myers didn’t know Charley had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a most cancers that begins within the blood and bone marrow.
Sharing that prognosis with their different youngsters wasn’t straightforward. Their daughters, Molly, 10 and Lilly, 8, took the information arduous.
As for Charley, he didn’t fairly perceive why he wasn’t going to have the ability to begin faculty like his sisters.
“It was arduous at first as a result of he didn’t really feel sick, so he didn’t perceive why he needed to take drugs,” Chad stated.
And like different youngsters his age, Charley doesn’t all the time prefer to take drugs and that’s the place the assist of his sisters are available. The ladies will dance round and do humorous issues to encourage their brother and make him pleased, so he’ll take his meds.
Unable to start out preschool as deliberate, Charley questioned if he’d move his illness on to others.
“He requested, ‘I can’t go to high school as a result of I’ll make the opposite youngsters sick?’” Alissa stated. “However we’ve defined to him it’s the opposite approach round. We don’t need him to get any sicker.”
The Myers know if Charley will get sick meaning he’ll be hospitalized.
For the reason that prognosis, Charley and his household have made many journeys forwards and backwards to the hospital for exams and coverings. Some days therapy can final so long as 12 hours. It’s all a part of a two-year plan to struggle the most cancers that may require outpatient chemotherapy, monitoring blood counts and evaluating signs.
In an effort to maintain Charley snug on the times he has therapy, his dad and mom will pack quite a lot of issues for him to do from coloring to taking part in together with his monster vans or an iPad handheld pc.
“The primary month we went collectively day by day however now we’re going individually,” Chad stated. “I went right this moment on my own, and Alissa will go tomorrow.”
Charley’s chemo therapy takes place in a transfusion room with different youngsters current. Proper now, he’s one of many youthful sufferers.
For the reason that day he was recognized, his dad and mom have shared details about Charley on their Fb pages and have acquired an outpouring of assist from the group.
At a current highschool soccer recreation between Airport and St. Mary Catholic Central, grey and orange “Crew Charley” T-shirts had been offered as a fundraiser for the Myers household. The occasion was organized by Jim Duffy, Airport soccer coach, and his household.
Chad is the previous athletic director for SMCC the place Alissa teaches math and physics.
“Once I instructed Charley that we’re going to go to the Airport vs SMCC soccer recreation and that there’s going to be a fundraiser for him with Crew Charley shirts he yelled ‘Yay’ and raised each his palms. He’s so excited to go and see everybody! Makes my coronary heart so full to see him so pleased! I actually can’t thank everybody sufficient for the assist that we have now acquired this previous month. Alissa Myers and I are simply so blessed to have fantastic and caring individuals in our lives,” Chad posted in a message on Fb.
“As a mother all you wish to do is make your child higher. Generally you may’t by yourself…however what does make it higher…household, pals, and a complete COMMUNITY exhibiting love, giving assist, and sending prayers,” was Alissa’s Fb put up.
The Myers notice the journey they face might have a couple of tough spots alongside the way in which, however with the continued assist of grandparents, household, and pals, they aren’t alone.
“The assist we’ve acquired from household, pals and strangers has been exceptional,” Chad stated. “Individuals I haven’t spoken to in years have reached out. For me, posting issues on Fb has been therapeutic and it’s simply wonderful the quantity of assist we’ve gotten.”
They each agree their religion retains them robust.
“Coming from the SMCC group, we began to share this on Fb as a result of all we needed was prayers for Charley,” Alissa stated. “We wish this recognized as a result of we wish individuals to hope and what retains us going every day is that he’s doing effectively. To see him as a cheerful 4-year-old boy, that’s what retains us robust.”
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