Day 4

Hi Everyone,

It’s Monday, back to the work week and time to get back into the groove of things. You would think when something like this happens the world would stop for us and give us a break. I wish! I can’t wait until 4 rolls around so I can get off work and go see Charlie. Yesterday Charlie got to see little Charlie . He was so happy to see his daddy. Before all of this happened, Charlie would watch him during the day and would go to work at night. They would spend all day together, so Little Charlie is definitely missing his daddy! Charlie is ending his first cycle of chemo mediations today. His body responded well to the first cycle. We hope that he has the same response to the next cycle, which he will start tonight.  There aren’t many updates at this time, just more chemo and rest for Charlie.

Some of you may be wondering how he was diagnosed and how this all started. It all started back in February. We just moved into our new place in town and things were going great. Shortly after our move, Charlie started to complain about pain he had in his shoulder. We just assumed it was from moving and from carrying little Charlie around. Unfortunately, the diagnosis of the pain wasn’t that easy. Charlie continued to feel the pain and it ended up spreading to this chest and shoulders. We went to the ER twice in February and the doctors said it was from overuse of his muscles and that the chest pain could be from heart burn. With pain medication and rest he continued to carry on with normal activities. Before we knew it, March rolled around. Charlie was experiencing more pain and it became unbearable. He went to the ER twice again in March for chest pain. He left the ER again with no answers and we were home again with frustrations and confusion on what could be going on with him. Charlie then started to think he was catching the flu. He had a high fever, chills, extreme fatigue and chest pain. We took him back to the ER and they finally admitted him. He was in the hospital for a week with no diagnosis. The doctors finally diagnosed him with Cytomegalovirus. With that diagnosis he went home and rested for a couple weeks. There was no medication that he could take for the CMV. We thought that would be it, no more ER visits and that he would heal after a month or so. We were wrong. The ER visits continued with the complaint of joint pain. Charlie was having excruciating pain throughout his joints in his body. They thought he might have arthritis of some sort. They ran tests; they sent him to specialists, and still no answers. The only thing that led to something was that his labs were off. He had low platelet counts, different high and low numbers that didn’t add up to the doctors. The last ER visit lead us to where we are now. He went in with joint pain and the doctor ordered a bone marrow biopsy to see what was going on with his labs. Blood is made in the bone. Doing the bone marrow biopsy would help to see if there were any problems with his blood. He had a follow up appointment to see the Hematologist on Wednesday the 8^th, but went to ER before he could make that appt. This ER visit was for shortness of breath and chest discomfort. While he was at the ER, the doctor told him about his bone marrow results. He let Charlie know that he has A.L.L, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. This diagnosis was unexpected and heartbreaking to all of us. We had our moment of disbelief and tears, but are ready to help Charlie beat this cancer! We really do appreciate all of your support, it so nice to have family and friends that care so much. I will keep the updates coming and please continue to pray for Charlie as he starts his new cycle of chemo tonight. We love you all!