Alice and The White Rabbit surround Charlie and his brothers and sisters, l-r:  Max, Ben, Charlie, Emma, Morgan, and Abby.

                    Charlie Loves Adventure!

With a twinkle in his eye and a grin to melt your heart, Charlie said he wished to do all of the following on his wish:

“Take a cruise where my family can go deep-sea fishing, swimming with the dolphins, snorkeling, meet an alligator and snake up close and personal,” and with an ornery look, added “and see if my Dad gets seasick!”

             A Disney Cruise was just the ticket for this lively six-year-old Omaha boy, who has stayed very active in spite of the last year of fighting cancer – Burkitt’s Cell Lymphoma.  When Charlie’s social worker called to refer him to Make-A-Wish^®, he was no stranger.  When Charlie was just a few days old, his oldest sister, Morgan, was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, another form of cancer.   When Morgan was finished with her treatments, she and her family made incredible memories when they went to Walt Disney World^® Resort for her wish.

             In a recent letter to family and friends, Charlie’s parents said,

  “When Charlie was first diagnosed, the cancer was literally filling his abdomen and central nervous system.  He was in critical condition and unable to move without pain, but it never stopped him from fighting – hard – and beating lymphoma and many side effects and infections along the way.  As parents, we never thought we’d have to hand so much control over to God, while seemingly watching from afar.  Charlie accepted it all without question and believed in himself, in God, and in us…which gave us strength beyond belief.  Even now, some of it seems like a blur:  well over 100 days inpatient, 16 spinal taps, countless scans and tests, several surgeries, 7 blood and 4 platelet transfusions, mouth sores that prevented even swallowing, 70 days of IV anti-fungal meds, a lack of appetite so severe that 2 months of TPN (IV nutrition) was required, 9 full rounds of intense chemo, and pneumonia more than once along the way.  He never ever gave up, and is so happy to now be in remission, with hair on his head again!  He’s back at Kindergarten, skating at his older brother’s practices, and keeping his little brother busy with adventures and sharing his smile with anyone around.”

As you can see, Charlie did get to meet that alligator, as well as fulfill his wish to do all of the other activities on his list.  With six children in Charlie’s family, their week in Florida was action- and memory-packed.

Charlie’s parents also said, “Just as if it were today, we can remember feeling the walls start to cave in around us…and wondering how cancer could really be happening to one of our children again.  But as in all of the situations that have unfolded before us, we were not able to slide in that direction for more than a moment.  Within minutes, the overwhelming support of our family and friends became evident and carried us through unceasingly until Charlie’s treatment ended in November.  How utterly incredible to experience the selflessness of others and to know that so many people, even strangers, are praying for your family.”