Charlotte’s Hope Fund

Charlotte Harris (now 16 months old) first developed persistent widespread lesions when she was 3 months old. At 6 months old she was diagnosed with Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH). LCH is a rare, cancer like autoimmune disease (treated with chemotherapy) that causes excess immune cells to build up in her body in the form of tumors and lesions. Charlotte’s LCH is multisystem which means it is occurring in multiple organs throughout her body. Charlotte has been receiving chemotherapy treatment from St. Jude’s for the past 9 months before moving back to Florida and transferring her care to St. Joseph’s Children’s hospital in Tampa this November. 9 months of treatment and her lesions have not continued to improve as her parents or doctors would have hoped. She is being reevaluated with additional testing to discuss a new treatment course. Because Charlotte is Immunocompromised she cannot be in daycare. This means that her family has to either live off one income while her mom stays home or both mom and dad have to work opposite schedules and they don’t get any time together as a family and all time off is used for doctor appointments etc. The funds raised in this page will be used to help relieve the stress of worrying how to support their family while their daughter is immunocompromised, and to supplement missed work while spent at treatment as well as travel expenses for treatment that has been difficult to navigate.

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My name is Caitlyn and I’m creating this go fund me for Charlotte and the Harris family.

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Melissa since we attended middle school together. Admittedly though, it wasn’t until much later in life that we became close friends, after bonding over the trials, joys, and learnings of being first time we moms. Now, I am beyond blessed to be able to call Melissa my best friend and our oldest daughters are each other’s best friends as well, despite living hours away from each other.

I have been wanting to create this go fund me for almost a year now but the Harris’ have continued to graciously decline the help, insisting there must be others more in need and not wanting to burden the world with their own struggles. Yet, I couldn’t think of a more deserving family who could benefit from our prayers, thoughts and financial help.

In May 2020 in the middle of Covid, Neil, Melissa and Amelia moved away from their families and friends in Florida in hopes of starting over and launching their new careers in the beautlful Tennesse. Hundreds of miles from home and loved ones they soon found out they were expecting their next bundle of joy and that Amelia was going to be a big sister. Melissa’s pregnancy was not easy by any means. She endured hyperemesis gravidarum (hg) throughout pregnancy for the second time while caring for a toddler at home and juggling online classes and occasionally working part time in the medical field to gain experience as well. Melissa was on track and aspiring to finish her bachelors degree and hoping to apply to PA or medical school in one of the nearby universities.

In august of 2021 they welcomed sweet Charlotte into their family and their hearts couldn’t have been more complete with their two beautiful healthy girls at home.

In November 2021, When Charlotte was only 3 months old she developed widespread lesions on her skin and in her mouth and had eye drainage. The lesions were not healing so Melissa and Neil brought it to their pediatricians attention. They knew it was something more than your typical baby skin rash or acne. Charlotte was misdiagnosed with having molluscum. The lesions were very persistent and not improving. Melissa began researching and seeking second and third opinions. Melissa listened to her intuition and continued to seek answers. They took Charlotte to 2 different pediatricians, and ear nose and throat doctor and a dermatologist.

In early 2022, Charlotte had a skin biopsy done by a dermatologist in Knoxville. Not long after, they received a phone call that would permanently change their lives. Charlotte’s pediatrician called and sympathetically informed Melissa that Charlotte had Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH). LCH is a rare, cancer like autoimmune disease (treated with chemotherapy) that causes excess immune cells to build up in her body in the form of tumors and lesions. Charlotte’s LCH is multisystem which means it is occurring in multiple organs throughout her body. At the age of just 6 months old with an LCH diagnosis, Charlotte was referred to St. Jude’s affiliate clinic in Johnson city where she regularly had labs and chemotherapy treatments performed.

Three different times Neil, Melissa and Charlotte traveled the 8 hours each way trip to St. Jude’s research hospital in Memphis. Often, this meant splitting up their family in one way or another. Melissa’s heart was always split in two directions while trying to remain a calm stable support for Charlotte. One of the three times, Amelia had to stay behind in Johnson City under the loving care of a family member who traveled all the way from Florida to watch her. The other two times, Amelia was able to travel with her parents to Memphis but Amelia wasn’t able

to be on the St. Jude’s campus because she didn’t have her Covid vaccine yet. So, Neil had to stay with her off site. Unfortunately, this also meant separate hotel rooms/lodging for the family as well as missed unpaid work days for Neil. While in Memphis, Charlotte was able to have scans and imaging done to check on the progress of her treatment plans.

In November the Harris family decided it was in the best interest of their family to move back closer to home to be surrounded by the ones they love in Florida. Charlotte’s care was transferred to St. Joseph’s Children’s hospital in Tampa,Florida.

After almost 9 months of treatment, her lesions have not continued to improve as her parents or doctors would have hoped. Last week, she had to be put under again to undergo additional testing and imaging.

They found LCH involvement in her stomach and intestines. The doctors are currently developing a new plan with putting her on a new form of chemotherapy and then possibly a targeted therapy if she has the mutation they are looking for.the new treatment plan is pretty intense. Starting next week (the week of Christmas) she has to be admitted for 5 days and they will do a whole new set of scans and chemo every day for the five days. the 5 day chemo session happens every 21 days going forward for a year. The Harris family has faith in their brave sweet girl that she is up for the fight. If she tolerates it well then she can do the rest of the sessions outpatient, otherwise she would have to be admitted for 5 days every 21 days. Depending on how the lesions and tumors after a year, charlotte’s maintenance chemotherapy and/or treatment can be changed.

Because Charlotte is Immunocompromised she cannot be in daycare. This means that her family has to either live off one income while her mom stays home or both mom and dad have to work opposite schedules and they don’t get any time together as a family and all time off is used for doctor appointments etc. The funds raised in this page will be used to help relieve the stress of worrying how to support their family while their daughter is immunocompromised, and to supplement missed work while spent at treatment as well as travel expenses for treatment that has been difficult to navigate.

If you can find it in your hearts to help, it would so greatly benefit their family. 1$ might sound minuscule but it adds up faster than you think and most of us can spare a dollar. 20$ could help pay for an hour of a personal home nanny while Melissa and Neil work or get errands done. $50 will fill up their car with gasoline to drive back and forth to the hospital for treatment. $100 could make a substantial dent in their rent/mortgage or a night in a hotel when traveling for further treatments. $200 will cover a week of groceries for the family. Let’s do what we can, even if it’s only 1$ each to help this faith driven family in need so they can focus on getting Charlotte healthy and spending time with Amelia.

Thank you in advance for your generosity, and help.