Support Charlie Anderson's Battle with Rare Tumor

Update -July 2025

“Every day that passes by

Brings me closer to the day I die

When I think upon this way

I know I’m lucky to have one more day”

Charlie Anderson, age 12

After 35 hours of surgery and seven months of living in Seattle, with more time spent in the hospital than out, Charlie is finally able to continue treatment at home!

This is a marathon, not a sprint. Heartbreakingly, there is no cure for pheochromocytoma. However, there are treatments that can shrink and slow the growth of the tumors.

This fundraiser will help pay for Charlie’s medical expenses, now and in the future, his trips to Seattle for continued treatment and to help give him the best summer ever. We don’t know what the future holds, but we know we’re lucky to have Charlie in our lives and we want to make the best of it!

From the Beginning- This fundraiser is for the family of Charlie Anderson as they prepare to spend the next month at Seattle Children's Hospital. Charlie is an active, fun-loving sixth grader who will turn 12 in a couple of weeks. He also has an aggressive and rare tumor growing in his abdomen.

In the early morning of May 31, Charlie was taken to the local emergency department with a severe side ache. His parents, Mary and Jeff, suspected appendicitis. However, they would soon learn that he had a 9 cm tumor, called a pheochromocytoma, growing on his right adrenal gland. He was immediately transferred to Seattle Children’s Hospital where he spent the following six weeks in and out of the hospital, culminating with a surgery to remove the tumor and his adrenal gland. Post-surgery, things were looking good. His initial bloodwork showed no signs of the tumor returning, and Charlie started sixth grade where he began playing the trumpet, biked to school, and joined the track team.

Unfortunately, at his follow-up appointment in mid-October, it was discovered that his metanephrine levels were elevated, which indicated the tumor had returned. Subsequent scans confirmed that the tumor had regrown at a relatively fast rate in the same general area. While the first tumor was completely contained, this time around the tumor has grown into his liver, right kidney, and at least one lymph node.

As of November 14, the plan is for Charlie to check in to Seattle Children’s Hospital on November 18, where he will be monitored for two days pre-operation. His surgery is scheduled for November 20 and 21. Yes, two days. At this point, the surgeons are planning to remove the tumors, his right kidney, part of his liver, and about 15-20 lymph nodes. It is a complex surgery, and he’s lucky to have some of the best pediatric surgeons on his care team. Charlie will need to remain in the hospital for at least 2-4 weeks post-op. Thankfully, both Mary and Jeff will be able to stay in the room with Charlie for the surgery and recovery. There may be a radiation injection treatment either in December or January where Charlie will have to isolate for 5 days.

This fundraiser will help the Anderson family with the added expense of staying in Seattle for up to a month or more and the medical expenses associated with Charlie's treatments. They won’t need to pay for lodging during the surgery and in-patient recovery, but may need to during the radiation treatment. Your financial help will ease their stress of needing to purchase three meals a day for both Jeff and Mary, and will allow them to focus on helping Charlie heal. They thank you for your support, both financial and emotional. This is an incredibly difficult time, and they are grateful to all their friends and family members who have continued to show up and help.