Wyatt's Story

        August 3rd 2015 we took Wyatt to the doctor with a mild fever that wouldn’t go away. After some blood work was performed his pediatrician called and told Jen to take him immediately to the hospital. Less than 12 hours later we learned Wyatt had cancer.  After additional testing of his bone marrow and spinal fluid we learned his complete diagnosis – Very High Risk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.  The cancer was found in his blood, bone marrow, and spinal fluid (which surrounds the brain).  For the next five weeks we didn’t leave the hospital.  Wyatt received a very rigorous phase of treatment in order to aggressively attack the cancer cells.  Being able to go home and only return for treatments as part of his regimen was a welcome change.  But it didn’t last too long.  During the past 9 months of intensive treatment, Wyatt’s immune system was so fragile that even catching the common cold would put him back in the hospital.  Since then we have had numerous week-long stays.  A fever in October kept Wyatt there for 21 days. 

        During our stay, we were connected to an incredible group of young men from the Theta Chi Fraternity at the University of Delaware. These young men “adopted” Wyatt into their Fraternity.  Wyatt looks forward to the boys visiting every time we are in the hospital.  Their visits allowed Jen and me to eat lunch in the cafeteria or just get out of the room for an hour.  I can’t even begin to tell you what these young men have done for my son and for my family.  I tried to think of how to pay these young men back (just a little) for what they have done.  Then all of the sudden it hit me, what’s better than a fishing trip?  So that is where the idea of a fishing tournament came.  I told Kyle, the young man in charge, I want to provide the guys from the Fraternity a free fishing trip.  The Frat guys will have to pay the entry fee into the tournament, but I am going to provide boats for them to fish on.  Hell, it’s the least I could do!  I am also looking to provide a boat for other Heroes who are fighting childhood cancer like my son Wyatt.  The reason I am asking for Sponsors is to help pay for boats for these Heroes and offset the cost of the tournament.  If I am lucky enough to make this work, any money made from the tournament will go towards Wyatt’s health bills for the next 2 ½ years.  Unfortunately at this point Wyatt still has a long journey ahead.    We have been shown so much kindness and generosity during this difficult time. In the future, we really want this to be our way of “paying it forward”.  To create an annual event to help local families going thru the same things we are going thru. Thank you all in advance for your consideration and generosity.

                                                                                 

 

                                                                                                     ~JR and Jen Russum~