Community shows support for teen battling leukemia
| 14 July 2010
Editor’s Note: Chad Crabtree is a ninth-grader at Westwood Junior High School. A few weeks ago while preparing for a school Beta Club trip, Chad became sick and was later diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. TSI spoke to his mother, Shannon O’Kelley Vickers, via facebook.
TSI: What is the exact diagnosis and where in his body is he affected?
SV: Chad was diagnosed with AML, Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Its most common in adults. This leukemia affects the bone marrow and his blood.
TSI: What is the prognosis and how are they treating the cancer?
SV: They are treating the cancer with 6 rounds of chemo. There are several different medications that will be used. Each round of chemo will contain different meds.
TSI: I understand he was on a Beta Club trip. How did you all find out he was sick? Had he showed any signs before?
SV: Before the Beta club trip he complained about his chin and the left side of his jaw being numb. I took him to his dentist who sent us to an oral surgeon.
He found nothing wrong with his x-rays or a CT Scan so he scheduled a bone biopsy of his jaw. This was on the Thursday or Friday before the trip to Kentucky. Since Chad refused to miss the trip we scheduled the test to be done on the Wednesday following his return on Tuesday.
By the time he left on Saturday morning his knee was hurting so bad and his mouth bothered him, it didn’t hurt but was just annoying. Sunday morning he text me at 3 a.m. saying his mouth and knee was killing him and his back teeth were moving.
We text ‘till 6 that morning. When I tried to reach him Monday morning when I got to work to tell him I was coming to get him he said he was fine and they were at the zoo to please not come.
By the time I got off work at 4:30 p.m., the school teacher, Mrs. Clark, called asking me to come get i come get him. Me and my fiance, Jack went and picked him up in Louisville, Ky. The next morning we took him to his physician for blood work to test for maybe Lyme disease. Dr. Daniel called saying his white blood cell count was 4 times higher than what it should be. He called Dr. Locke, the oral surgeon and they decided to send Chad to the Children’s Hospital here at Vanderbilt.
TSI: How are his spirits?
SV: Chad is an amazing kid. His spirits have been great since we’ve been here. The only bad thing he has said is “this sucks.” He looks great, and feels so much better since getting here. He’s had so many friends and much family supporting him. He said that this is just another one of life's journeys, another story he can tell.
TSI: How are the family’s spirits?
SV: The family is all doing real well, its easy when you see Chad and he looks just like the Chad you know and love.
TSI: What has been your response to the support from the community?
SV: Everyone we know and so many that we don’t have been just wonderful, sending prayers and cards. It amazes me how many people all over the world have heard about my son and send their prayers for a full recovery.
I try to get on facebook and update everyone and to thank everyone for their kind words and prayers. It seems to be the easiest way right now.
TSI: Is there anything he needs that folks can bring or send him?
SV: Right now Chad seems to have everything he needs. HE has a new laptop that his grandpa got for him, his x-box and his cell phone. Just asking that everyone keep him in your prayers, it seems to be working.
Cards may be sent to:
Chad Crabtree, Room 6421
Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital
2200 Children’s Way
Nashville, Tenn. 37232
