FRIENDS FOR TYLER CALLAHAN

On Saturday September 29, 2018 My  17 year old Grandson Tyler's life would changed forever. A simple ear infection turned into our worst nightmare. Tyler noticed a few "dots" on his feet and hands, Being he was on antibiotics for an ear infection I thought he was having an allergic reaction to the medication. I brought him to a local walk-in Clinic, and that's where our lives would change. The examining Dr. took a look at Tyler's "dots" and immediately suggested a blood draw, I saw the look in her eyes and felt it in my heart something was  really wrong.  The Dr. said she would call on Monday with results. We left with an empty feeling of the unknown, it was 5:30 pm... At 11:30pm the phone rang ,  it was the service for the walk-in clinic saying Tyler's Blood work results were in,   bring him to the nearest emergency room he has Cancer... As we rushed into Stony Brook Medical Center things started becoming a blur, a bad Dream. Within a few hours I was faced with a team of Oncologists, they would later tell me that my Grandson has Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia,  T-Cell. We have a tremendous challenge ahead of us. They whisked him away and did  X-rays of his chest to find a mass which was obstructing his windpipe. They needed to act fast, his White Blood Cell Count was at 200,000 ( normal is 5-10 thousand), his kidneys were not functioning properly and With my permission and the grace of God, they asked to perform a spinal tap, bone marrow biopsy and install a Picc Line in his arm for treatment, this would be done with local anesthesia, they could not risk General Anesthesia due to the chest mass. Tyler is a quiet young man, he never complains and is in his Senior year at Comsewogue High School. We have a lot of plans for his future, His parents are not in contact with him and have been absent from his life for many years. He has no siblings and I am his support system and he is mine, forever we will face any challenges brought before us.  We have been up against many challenges, but this by far is our biggest and greatest. I contacted Tyler's High School to let them know what we were up against, unbeknownst to me, I would receive a call back from Dr. Wolf, The Schools Psychologist. With a warm Heart and holding back tears she would explain to me the love and support they have for Tyler and want to be his biggest supporter, they have been my back bone in such a short time, We are not alone... So here our Journey begins. We are told his treatment will be a 3 year or more fight, we spent two weeks in the hospital, after stabilizing him He has been released and has started The Induction Chemotherapy Stage; a 29 day of vigorous Chemotherapy, Spinal Taps, and Bone Marrow Biopsy.  We are at day 15, at day 29 they Will install a port in his Chest, if all is clear. I had to leave my job to care for Tyler, I am not Entitled to Family Leave. I am currently Tyer's Caregiver and his biggest cheerleader. Not working is a challenge, we are faced with medical expenses, co-payments as we go for treatment and the monthly bills will continue to flow, not sure how I will handle this. I want Tyler to have a future and I am asking for any support, does not have to be monetary. Please Keep My boy in your Heart and Prayers and thank you for listening.  With a Humble Heart We Thank You; Tyler and Elpida