Charli is my three year old niece and my little best friend, she has been since she was born. Her fiery red hair (though she insists it’s yellow) matches her fierce personality. She’s fearless and fun and has endless energy. She loves all of the Princesses and PJ Mask, playing in the dirt, attending preschool and going to dance class. We recently started having weekly sleepovers and I’m not sure who gets more excited, me or Charli!
Last week Charli was watching PJ Mask while her mom was doing dishes, and because Charli was ‘CatBoy Girl’, as she has titled herself, it was her job to help save the friends! She jumped off the kitchen table as a super hero would of course do, but she injured her knee when she landed. Initially the doctors thought she had only sprained it. As Charli’s pain and swelling increased, the diagnosis changed to a torn meniscus. That night, 3 days after the injury occurred, Charli started to run a fever and the ibuprofen no longer controlled the pain.
The next morning, Charli’s mom took her to the emergency room at Primary Children’s Hospital where they did another X-ray, blood work, an ultrasound and an MRI. It took another day for a diagnosis and the pain and fever increased. Charli had an infection in the bone in her knee and had developed CA-MRSA. However, the doctors are unable, still, to identify the exact source of the
infection. She is on IV antibiotics and will
remain so for the duration of her stay in the
hospital. When the doctors can pinpoint
exactly the source of the infection, they will
need to schedule surgery to remove the
infected bone. Because of the MRSA, Charli
has developed a heart murmur. Tomorrow
Charli is scheduled for an Echocardiogram of
her heart because of the irregular heartbeat
she’s developed today.
Charli’s mom is my younger sister, Bre. Bre is
the type of thoughtful, kind and generous
person I strive to be when I grow up. Bre and
Josh got married about 6 years ago and have
both worked 2 jobs to support their family,
Charli and two teenage sons, ever since. They are humble and caring and go out of their way to
help family in times of need. Bre is like a second mother to my own kids.
But this time Bre, Josh, and my best friend
Charli need my help. And your help. Bre can’t work at all right now because she needs to be at the hospital with Charli. Josh is trying to balance working one job and taking a leave from his second job, with being at the hospital.They need to have the resources to pay forCharli’s treatment, which is still in the early stages, take care of their family at home, and take care of Charli’s ongoing
medical needs. They were told when Charli
does get to leave the hospital, she will
continue to be on antibiotics for at least 6
weeks. Please help Charli land softly at the
end of this fall. This little girl should be able to continue to jump and roll and flip and curtsy
and smile that beautiful smile for her parents
all the while. Please share Charli’s story. My
best friend needs your help ❤️