On April 9th our families’ lives were changed forever. Almost a thousand miles away in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, our grandson had been admitted to the hospital. On April 14th Zachary Hartsell was diagnosed with Stage IV Ewing’s Sarcoma. The scans revealed a tumor the size of a grapefruit on his left pelvis. This explained the pain he had been experiencing when trying to walk. The tumor had fractured his pelvis. The scans also showed four “hot spots” on his lungs, one on the back of his skull, one on his right shoulder, and one on his right thigh. On April 15th the battle to win this ugly war began. After three strong treatments of chemo, tests were done again and the tumor on the pelvis and the hotspots on his lungs were not seen. The other spots were not “glowing “like before.
The cancer and the chemo have taken a toll on Zach's body. He struggles to walk, he struggles to stand, he has a port in his chest for the chemo and other medicines and a feeding tube in his stomach for when he is unable to eat on his own. All his hair is gone and his skin is discolored. He needs help with lots of things that he didn't before. But he still smiles and pays no attention to people when they stare at him. He is totally our hero!
We can no longer give him a big hug like before because his body is so thin and weak and it feels like he might break. So we hug him gently and plant kisses on his beautiful bald head. His attitude is great and his faith is strong. He believes in God and he believes God will heal is body. When anyone asks him what they can do for him the answer is always the same “keep praying".
Zach lived in a mobile home with his mom and younger brother and sister in Wisconsin. He lives Sevierville, Tennessee with his dad during the summer and is here for about 3 weeks for Christmas. After he got sick it was discovered that their home had black mold in it and his doctors said he could never go back there to live. So they have been homeless since April 9th. Right now they are crowded in a small house with his grandma.
During this ordeal we have learned so many wonderful life lessons. We have learned there are no boundaries for love. Many friends had offered to help in anyway. What Zach needed was a home. How do you ask that kind of favor? That is when we contacted Faye Fish with Modern Woodman. She never hesitated when we told her we needed help. By the next week, we were meeting with Jennifer and Linda Lane, Linda Branam, and Ruby Smith all sponsors of Junior Service Clubs, Senior Service Clubs, and Tiny Tots Clubs. Within a month, we had organized a fundraiser for Zach. We were humbled by the generosity of the community and especially these members of Modern Woodmen with their commitment to help raise the money to buy a mobile home for Zach and his family. Although we may be a thousand miles away from Zach, we have learned that here in Newport, Tennessee there are no boundaries when it comes to helping others. Zach’s family in Wisconsin and in Tennessee will always be thankful for Modern Woodmen. As Zach would say, just “keep praying!”
Written by Peggy Proffitt (Mamaw) and Janie Brown (Nana)
On April 9th our families’ lives were changed forever. Almost a thousand miles away in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, our grandson had been admitted to the hospital. On April 14th Zachary Hartsell was diagnosed with Stage IV Ewing’s Sarcoma. The scans revealed a tumor the size of a grapefruit on his left pelvis. This explained the pain he had been experiencing when trying to walk. The tumor had fractured his pelvis. The scans also showed four “hot spots” on his lungs, one on the back of his skull, one on his right shoulder, and one on his right thigh. On April 15th the battle to win this ugly war began. After three strong treatments of chemo, tests were done again and the tumor on the pelvis and the hotspots on his lungs were not seen. The other spots were not “glowing “like before.
The cancer and the chemo have taken a toll on Zach's body. He struggles to walk, he struggles to stand, he has a port in his chest for the chemo and other medicines and a feeding tube in his stomach for when he is unable to eat on his own. All his hair is gone and his skin is discolored. He needs help with lots of things that he didn't before. But he still smiles and pays no attention to people when they stare at him. He is totally our hero!
We can no longer give him a big hug like before because his body is so thin and weak and it feels like he might break. So we hug him gently and plant kisses on his beautiful bald head. His attitude is great and his faith is strong. He believes in God and he believes God will heal is body. When anyone asks him what they can do for him the answer is always the same “keep praying".
Zach lived in a mobile home with his mom and younger brother and sister in Wisconsin. He lives Sevierville, Tennessee with his dad during the summer and is here for about 3 weeks for Christmas. After he got sick it was discovered that their home had black mold in it and his doctors said he could never go back there to live. So they have been homeless since April 9th. Right now they are crowded in a small house with his grandma.
During this ordeal we have learned so many wonderful life lessons. We have learned there are no boundaries for love. Many friends had offered to help in anyway. What Zach needed was a home. How do you ask that kind of favor? That is when we contacted Faye Fish with Modern Woodman. She never hesitated when we told her we needed help. By the next week, we were meeting with Jennifer and Linda Lane, Linda Branam, and Ruby Smith all sponsors of Junior Service Clubs, Senior Service Clubs, and Tiny Tots Clubs. Within a month, we had organized a fundraiser for Zach. We were humbled by the generosity of the community and especially these members of Modern Woodmen with their commitment to help raise the money to buy a mobile home for Zach and his family. Although we may be a thousand miles away from Zach, we have learned that here in Newport, Tennessee there are no boundaries when it comes to helping others. Zach’s family in Wisconsin and in Tennessee will always be thankful for Modern Woodmen. As Zach would say, just “keep praying!”
Written by Peggy Proffitt (Mamaw) and Janie Brown (Nana)