This year, Carter will be shaving his head in honor of Adler. Adler is the nephew of a close friend of mine, Jane Fetty.
Please read Adler's story below as told by his aunt.
-Chris
It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that I write to you on behalf of my brother and his family. My nephew, Adler who is going to be three on Saturday, March 11, was diagnosed with a Wilms tumor two weeks ago. This is an aggressive form of pediatric kidney cancer. Adler was diagnosed as stage four when MRI results showed that the cancer had metastasized to his lungs and lymph nodes. This diagnosis literally came out of left field. He had a fever from an ear infection that just wouldn't go away. At a follow-up appointment that included a more comprehensive physical, a mass was detected. The family was sent to University of Wisconsin Children's Hospital directly after the appointment.
At this time, the course of treatment is six weeks of chemo therapy (he has completed two weeks) with the hope that the tumor shrinks enough that the surgeon can remove the kidney, two weeks of radiation post-surgery and an additional six weeks of chemotherapy.
The family lives an hour away from Madison, Wisconsin where Adler is being treated. I am attaching the link to the Caring Bride site that my sister-in-law, Rhonda, is updating regularly, so that you can follow his progress, provide words of encouragement, positive thoughts and prayers.
If you would like to provide additional support my brother suggested gas cards for their weekly trips or visa gift cards that would be used towards hotel stays as there are times when they have to spend nights in Madison and the Ronald McDonald House has not always had a space available to them. I will have a manilla folder in my mailbox where you can place anything you would like me to take to them on my trips to Wisconsin.
Adler loves fire trucks, tractors, Paw Patrol. He is a sweet, sweet little boy who does not really understand why he doesn't feel good or the changes that are occurring in his life. Any and all support would be greatly appreciated by the family.
Thank you,
Jane Fetty