Benefit for Charlie Taylor

Fundraising to help Charles Taylor-sponsored by the Taylor and Trott Families, written by Zachary Taylor

Chuck T, Chaz, Charlie, Uncle Charlie, Dad, Bampa, Grampa… He is many names to many different people, but to everyone he is that person that you needed exactly at that moment in your life… He is a rock. He is a captivating Grampa doling out raspberries, bear hugs and monkey bites. He is a voice of reason. He is tough love. He is a quiet and engaged sounding board when you really need someone to talk to. He is a classic one liner just when you need a pick-me up. He is the guy that will push you to be better. He is a handyman. He is a coach. He is a man that wore pink back before it was fashionable. He is that relentless positivity that you need, but somehow bothers you, because it's hard to understand how he does it. Dad is all of these things, but he is not without his faults and frailties like all of us. He is not the type of guy that wants anyone to shoulder his burdens and will carry them with a smile at his own expense. And because of this, he isn’t someone who will typically ask for help.

Some of you may know and some may not that Dad was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) a few years ago and had the good fortune of a successful round of treatment that led to him reaching remission last summer. We all held out hope that the year long journey of treatment would be the worst of it. As happens to so many brave and resilient survivors of cancer, the cancer came back. He was given a terminal cancer diagnosis over the holidays of Richter’s Syndrome which is a rare complication of CLL. He has been undergoing new intensive rounds of chemo treatments since and thankfully his mind and body have been strong and he has fought back the cancer well enough to potentially allow for a stem cell transplant.

Cancer treatments and caretaking costs are mounting and will continue well into the future over the course of Dad’s fight. In addition to the direct medical costs, his treatment regime requires major changes to his life over the next year. He will essentially need to fully isolate himself for over 100 days to guard against infection post stem cell transplant. This means they will have to perform commercial grade sanitization of their 1800’s farmhouse in Acton, modifications to their living space for isolation, and then daily changes like having a very carefully monitored diet, ongoing intensive sanitation of his living spaces, etc. And then there are the countless unanticipated costs of living with cancer, such as the weekly commute to Boston for follow ups, and the loss of income from work for both Mum and Dad.

So, we have set up this fundraiser to support Dad so he can focus 100% of his energy on keeping his mind and body strong to battle this and give himself the best chance he can. Mum and Dad are proud, resilient people and not prone to asking for help. But they could really use support and one way we can do that is by donating to help them through this process. Everything raised through this page will go directly to Dad’s bank account to pay for all of the expenses that have been and will continue to be incurred. This fund will alleviate a major burden which is common for nearly all that must battle cancer…financial stress. If we can help, together, to take at least a portion of that burden off Dad’s plate, then he can divert that energy to healing and we can give some peace of mind to the man that has given us all so much. Thank you for your love and support.