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Charlie's Story

When you’re in need of a friendly smile or a big ole’ hug, Charlie’s your guy. Whether you’ve known him for years or just introduced yourself, a few minutes with Charlie is certain to brighten your day. He’s an eternal optimist despite having faced more than his fair share of challenges.

Charlie was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) when he was 16 months old. The news devastated his parents, Beth and Jason. Beth had just given birth to Charlie’s little sister when the diagnosis came in, and now they faced the prospect of months of chemotherapy treatments for Charlie.

“Little did we know, AML is more common in kids with Down syndrome,” says Beth. “Charlie had to stay in the hospital for four weeks at a time, and he had to make six of those visits. He would have four days of chemo and then recover for three weeks in the hospital.”

Charlie’s parents were grateful not only for the medical expertise of their cancer care team at Cincinnati Children’s, they were also thankful for the kindness, friendliness and warmth shown to them throughout Charlie’s treatment.

“We know how lucky we are to have Cincinnati Children’s 20 minutes away,” says Beth. “People fly from all over the country to come here. We are so fortunate to have all of Charlie’s doctors right here.”

Charlie beat cancer, and now he’s moved on to more lighthearted challenges, like riding horses and playing soccer. He still makes regular visits to the Thomas Center for Down Syndrome at Cincinnati Children’s, where his doctors help keep him on track for key milestones.

He loves trips to the zoo, so he’s already looking forward to Cincinnati Walks for Kids, where he’ll be joined by friends and family (and, we hope, by you!).

After all, it’ll be a great chance to give out lots of hugs.

Register for the walk today