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Charlie’s Story

Site created on June 23, 2022

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.

As most of you know, my father in law, Charlie Atkinson, was recently diagnosed with grade 3 Astrocytoma with some tests still pending that could confirm grade 4. This diagnosis was confirmed at The Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville where Mrs. Karol and Mr. Charlie will be traveling and staying for treatments over an extended period of time. Treatments will include radiation 5 days a week Monday through Friday for six weeks, in which they will need a hotel Monday through Thursday night. Radiation treatments will begin on Monday, June 27th. Thankfully they will be able to travel home on Fridays allowing them to rest at home and regroup for another week of radiation. Mr. Charlie will also be taking a chemo pill through the duration of his radiation treatments and continue the pill over the course of several months. Our prayer is that with the radiation and chemo treatments that his tumor will shrink and reduce the pressure that’s it’s causing which has a major impact on his symptoms of fatigue, loss of balance, and slurred/delayed speech due to the placement of the tumor. On behalf of Corey and I, we have decided to set up this CaringBridge site in hopes of keeping all of our friends and family updated on Mr. Charlie’s progress, as well as honoring them with donations if you feel led to do so. These donations will assist the Atkinson’s with travel and hotel expenses, as well as any other unknown expenses that may arise as they are “Living with Cancer.” Along with donations, our family asks that you keep Mr. Charlie in you prayers and pray specifically that the treatments will shrink his tumor and that his body handles the treatments with grace. We also ask that you keep Mrs. Karol in your prayers as she is navigating this journey and providing Mr. Charlie with around the clock care that we are so thankful for. Lastly, we must not leave out Kacee and Seba (fully blind.) These precious fur babies will endure a lot as well as Mr. Charlie and Mrs. Karol begin this journey. They will be able to travel with them to Jacksonville at times, but other times they will rely on friends and family to take care of them, which we all know will be out of the ordinary for them. We pray that they will be accepting if the care and remain safe and feel all the love. We appreciate your support during this trying time!

Newest Update

Journal entry by Brandy Brock — Sep 8, 2022

Here is our praise update from Mr. Charlie’s recent update:

His doctor was pleased with the MRI- There was no new growth, as well as much less fluid in the area around tumor area. She was pleased with his labs and it was an overall good visit. She will proceed with treatment of 6 cycles of Chemo which is 5 Days of a Chemo pill (that he will take at night) then off for 23 Days. We will have a scan with a new MRI every 2 months, between now and the end of 6 Cycles of Chemo.

In conclusion, the doctors were pleased with the MRI and the progress the treatments have done so far. Now, we pray Charlie will get stronger with each day that passes! We are so blessed & so grateful! Thank you all for your prayers! Please continue to keep sending them up!

Read More of the journal titled "September 8, 2022"

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