I’m a tough girl, I do tough things

Life is tough. And sometimes when you think you’ve gotten through the roughest fight, you get thrown another punch. Our beautiful 5-year-old 2024 ambassador, Charlie, had clear scans in January 2024, but as of September 2024 she must endure another round of chemotherapy. Yet, she is facing it with courage again, telling her mom, “It’s going to be ok.”

At 2 years old, Charlie started having bowel and bladder issues. Despite numerous trips to the emergency room, Charlie was always sent home with the diagnosis of constipation. Nearly a year later, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.

Charlie’s cancer started as Sacrococcygeal Teratoma, typically a benign tumor that forms on a fetus’ tailbone in utero. This was missed on ultrasounds in utero and in her frequent emergency room visits. When left, SCTs can turn cancerous, as was Charlie’s case.

Through it all and having endured so much Charlie’s mantra “I’m a tough girl, I do tough things.”

In January 2024, Charlie’s scans finally showed no evidence of disease! However, in late August, her scans presented new lesions and ultimately doctors determined the cancer was back. She started her chemo treatments after her 5^th birthday in early September and will continue for the next four months.

Charlie chose Dr. Tyler Ketterl’s research at Seattle Children’s Hospital as the beneficiary for the Friends for Life fundraising efforts this year. His work directly improves survivorship and the lives of cancer in children. More specifically, he works to advance research by providing biostatistical support of germ cell tumor research conducted by Malignant Germ Cell International Consortium (MaGIC).

You can help further this research by purchasing Charlie’s votives or ornaments.

Also, please keep Charlie in your prayers so that she can get back to being the fun-loving little girl who loves pink, dances, twirls, swims, sings and plays with her younger sister and new little brother.

Read more about Charlie here.