WAYS TO HELP:

  • Join #TeamBo by liking Bodyn The Brave on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BodynTheBrave/

  • Donate directly to the Schumacher family @ www.gofundme.com/bodynthebrave.

  • Gift cards of any kind can be mailed to Steps Together on their behalf. PO BOX 5773, Hillsborough, NJ 08844.

    • Groceries are in high demand since he eats a lot more from stimulants given daily! Near by stores for that are Shoprite & Walmart.

    • Straight Talk Wireless $45 phone cards – available at Walmart (our cellphones are prepaid)

    • Gas cards have been helpful for the many trips back and forth too.

    • And as always, just a greeting card makes us happy! If you have any other ideas or questions, feel free to ask!

  • Click here to make a tax deductible donation to Steps Together.   Steps Together is a Hillsborough based 501(c)(3) organization that assists families in our community facing a medical crisis.   Steps Together assists all the families we detail.

BODYN’S STORY:

Bodyn was diagnosed April 14, 2017 with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), 2 weeks shy of his 4th Birthday (April 28th). What brought us into the hospital was a routine check up the day before with the pediatrician to receive vaccinations and have a few lumps in his groin checked out because they were swollen. Noticing that Bo was very pale, blood work was done to check for anemia and low iron deficiency. The blood work came back with alarming numbers. A high white blood count, low hemoglobin and low platelets. We immediately took Bodyn to Robert Wood Johnson Children’s Hospital in New Brunswick NJ, emergency room department and were quickly met with the oncology team. More blood work, a bone marrow biopsy, and lumbar puncture had confirmed the diagnosis. Bodyn was admitted and spent 5 weeks in the hospital during his induction round of chemotherapy. During week 4 of the stay, another bone marrow biopsy was done, and shown him to be in remission. Great news, however much more to go. A port was put in between induction round and consolidation.

As of January 2018, Bodyn had went through several rounds of chemotherapy that was a very aggressive protocol. This required chemo, numerous lumbar punctures, blood and platelet transfusions, IVIG, and scheduled stays at the hospital as well as some stays due to fevers/count recovery. A fever of 100.4 or higher requires an admission through the emergency department. Bo is now in the maintenance phase, which is a once a month lumbar puncture, IVIG and clinic visit. Also he receives chemo at home through pill form. This will go on for a year.

Regardless of everything that has happened since the day of Bodyn’s diagnosis, he has been an courageous brave little boy. With two older brothers, Connor and Aiden, he has had no problems keeping up with them. Power of prayer, an amazing community and support system behind us from everywhere has been extremely helpful and we are forever grateful. We can’t thank all of you enough for being a part of Team Bo.