Chuck’s Story

Site created on November 20, 2019

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.


To help support Chuck through his journey please click on the “ways to help” tab that will direct you to his GoFundME page that will go directly towards his household expenses for the next few months as he is recovering. To follow his journey and for updates you can go to the “journey” tab for any updates throughout his recovery and fight against leukemia. From the whole Kennedy family we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your love and support during this trying time. 

Newest Update

Journal entry by kristin kennedy

Dad has officially completed his first successful week of outpatient treatment! 

He is doing great! I little more tired this week, but if that’s his biggest hiccup so far, he’s okay with it! So his treatment plan consists of blood work and EKG’s on Monday and Wednesday’s. This is to ensure his electrolytes and heart function are maintained while he is getting the Arsenic infusions. He will be going to the office Monday - Friday for his infusions. The infusion itself takes 2 hours but between the check-in time and getting all hooked up it’s about a 3-4 hour process. Monday’s and Wednesday’s are bit longer because of the tests. On his first day they said to expect to be there anywhere from 6-8 hours, but thanksfilly that has only happened once, which was his first day there. With the Arsenic it can cause your magnesium and potassium levels to drop. So he’s had 2 magnesium infusions which take 2 hour. But thankfully he is now able to to take the magnesium by mouth and not have to wait for the infusion. While he was in the hospital he needed the electrolyte infusions almost daily, so although they keep dropping he has been at a trend where they are comfortable giving it to him by mouth to save him some time in the office. 

Like I mentioned in my last post, he will be doing 4 weeks on and 4 weeks of with the Arsenic infusions for 8 months. He also is taking a chemo pill twice a day. With the pill it is 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off. The nice part about the outpatient setting is that he gets a little break for his body to recover on his off weeks from the arsenic. Plus there is no place like home. So as much of a challenge it is to get there everyday, he gets to come home after treatment and not be confined to a hospital! 

One week down and 31 to go! If all goes according to plan and there are no challenges along the way (but let’s be real, he killed it the first time, there’s no doubt in our minds he won’t conquer this round) he should be done by the end of August. 

Dad and mom are so appreciative for all of you have reached out to them through this whole journey. I may sound super repetitive, but words just don’t give it justice how thankful they are to have such amazing people in their lives. The amount of love and support they received is overwhelming. Because of all of you their financial burdens where lifted from their shoulders while dad was down, and it shows. The recovery dad has had just goes to show how you can heal with minimized stressors. 

As always, I will continue to do updates along dad’s killer fight! 




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