It seems completely unfair to be back in this position, but Jacque and Rob's sweet little Charlie has cancer. If this sounds familiar, it's because it's an all too familiar story for this family. Rob recounts the last week below.

We are so, so appreciative for all of the love and support that was shown to the Skaggs family 3.5 years ago when Penny was diagnosed. Thank you for once again showing up and supporting this dear family.

In December of 2018, we heard the words Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma for the first time when receiving the tumor diagnosis for our little baby girl Penny, back then those words felt ominous and difficult to pronounce. Since then, those words have become very familiar to us and nowadays they roll off the tongue like a silly word in a Mary Poppins song. So, when doctors used those words today to diagnose Charlie, we weren’t nearly as befuddled as we were over three years ago.

Last Wednesday, when changing Charlie’s diaper, I felt a long, oval lump in his lower abdomen. I immediately carried him into Jacque who felt the lump and it was deja-vu, we did not like how this lump felt or moved. We took Charlie into the emergency room where the initial scans and blood work were completed. Later that day a doctor came in to give us the news, all signs pointed to Charlie having cancer, though they weren’t sure what type of tumor it was yet. I got the feeling that the doctor expected us to have an emotional break down, or at least need a minute or two… but Jacque and I were already in battle-mode. We had questions about getting him properly diagnosed and starting treatment ASAP. We have grieved, and we will continue to grieve as Charlie starts his treatments, but in that moment Jacque and I were on familiar ground, and we wanted to get the best for Charlie as quickly as we could.

Charlie’s case mirrors Penny’s almost exactly. Neither showed any symptoms prior to their diagnosis. Aside from the mass we felt in the abdomen Charlie was / is very energetic, playful, and in good spirits. Following his MRI and PET scans, Charlie had a biopsy completed and doctors confirm he also has Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma, a tumor stemming from muscle tissue near his bladder. He will have port put in either today or tomorrow and begin chemotherapy treatment immediately. He will then continue to do outpatient chemo treatments one day a week after that.

There is some comfort in knowing the road to success here. The regiment for Charlie’s healing will be almost the same, his cardiac doctors have agreed that his heart condition will not affect his chemo treatment or vice versa.

Once again we call upon our family and friends for your prayers. We know all too well the power of prayer. As always feel and appreciate the support, thoughtful messages, and service we receive from all of you, we are grateful for your hope and love. We are incredibly blessed to have talented doctors and medical professionals treating Charlie.

Thank you and we love you all.

Rob, Jacque, Betsy, Oliver, Penelope, and Charlie