Christophar's bad day

Christophar’s really, really bad day…

Written by Steve Ehrhardt (Papa), grandfather of Christophar Fleuter, father of Audrea (Christophar’s Mommy)

This is Christophar, my Grandson, and he’s had a very bad day.  He’s only three and this isn’t supposed to happen, but it did.  

He was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma (high risk) so he has to stay in the hospital for quite a while and he isn’t too happy about that.  He has boo-boo’s in his abdomen, lymph nodes in his neck and the bone marrow in both legs, and he hurts. The doctor’s say this will be at least a three year journey, but Christophar won’t take it alone. 

Luckily, Mom and Dad get to stay with him as long as he has to stay at the hospital, and Grandpa and other friends go to see him for several days every week.  When his belly hurts, Mommy rubs it and it is the only thing that makes him feel better.  Of course, they can’t work and be at the hospital all the time, but the hospital gave them a place to stay.  Later he might have to go to Chicago, and maybe to Memphis because he is in a research program to help him and maybe other little boys and girls who get bad boo-boos.

To friends, family, and anyone who wants to help…our journey is just beginning and is already taking a toll emotionally and financially.  It isn’t the medical costs…those are covered (unless or until he has to go to Chicago for specialized therapies)…it is loss of income, day-to-day living expenses, travel expenses, and million and one things you don’t think about.  You end up facing hard choices you don’t want to make.  

We are setting an initial goal of $400 per week for 10 weeks, or $4000, to cover (per week) $200 food and miscellaneous living expenses, $150 travel expenses, and $50 for fees and any other costs that we haven’t anticipated.  I suspect we will have to adjust this over time as we get a better picture of what all will be required.  I would also like to give a shout out for the St. Jude’s team in Peoria (IL) and encourage anyone looking for a good cause for donation purposes…they are doing tremendous work and I can attest that Angels abide in that place!  

He's currently at St. Judes/OSF, Room 619, name is Christophar Fleuter.

https://www.stjude.org/treatment/pediatric-oncology.html is the website.

Children's Hospital of Illinois at OSF-Saint Francis Medical Center.
530 NE Glen Oak
Peoria, IL 61637
(309) [phone redacted]
After Hours: (309) 6624-4945 (press 2 to speak to an on-call physician)
Fax: (309) [phone redacted]