There is nothing that can prepare a parent for the news that their child must battle a life-threatening disease.
“Once we were home it seemed surreal that our life had so drastically changed, and forever,” says Anthony’s mom, Kelsey.
Six year-old Anthony awoke Sunday August 20, 2017 unable to put weight on either of his legs. A visit to his primary care physician at the Carilion New River Valley Medical Center turned into a trip to the emergency room, blood tests, and finally the diagnosis.
Anthony had acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
After a five-day stay in the hospital, the medical team finally gave Anthony and his mom the okay to go back home.
It’s stories like Anthony’s that spark passion within the hearts of our ValleyStar Credit Union team members who fundraise year-round for our local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, Carilion Children’s.
Our ValleyStar team had set an ambitious goal for the 2020 Annual Golf Tournament – to beat our 2019 CMN donation record of $40,000. Faced with the global pandemic, we had to cancel the golf tournament and have now turned our sights to a digital donation platform.
“Credit Unions for Kids is thrilled to partner with ValleyStar Credit Union to raise funds in an innovative way: engaging members to give online and mobile. This will revolutionize philanthropy in the credit union space and is a testament to ValleyStar for being an early leader,” stated Nick Coleman with Credit Unions for Kids.
“ValleyStar Credit Union has built strong relationships with community partners, neighbors, and businesses who share the same passion to help children in our area. We will not let a virus stop our efforts to help children in need,” says Becky Freemal, vice president of brand at ValleyStar Credit Union.
All donations raised will stay in southwest Virginia to help purchase lifesaving medical equipment for children with medical needs.
“The funds donated to Children’s Miracle Network from ValleyStar Credit Union are even more critical now than they ever have been before. Each year, over 40,000 children in southwest Virginia require specialized, expensive health care and our hospital is now providing even more crucial support services that help families of patients manage during these trying times, like mental health programs, accommodation, and meals. Our hospital could not be more appreciative for the community that has truly rallied behind us and has never faltered, even in the most trying times,” added Erin Henderson, program director for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Carilion Children’s.
Anthony is one of the more than 40,000 children from 40 counties in Virginia and neighboring states who are hospitalized at or visit Carilion Children’s each year.
After getting a port for cancer treatment, intense physical therapy to walk again, blood transfusions, and daily chemotherapy treatments, this little boy who loves to swim, build LEGOs, cook and read, just had his last dose of chemo in June!
His mom, Kelsey, adds, “You truly have to live in the moment when your child has cancer, planning far ahead and getting wrapped up in the ‘what ifs’ is a burden and stress that is not worth the time and energy as those efforts need to be focused elsewhere. We have learned to accept each day as it comes.”
A strong lesson for us all in 2020.
The ValleyStar team may be forced to pivot plans for the 2020 golf tournament, but we are surrounded by the strength of community and know, with you, we can continue to help children just like Anthony.
