Rhode's Road To Recovery

What started as a summer vacation quickly turned into every parent's worst nightmare. Paige and Colby Tindle and their children Jolene 4, and Rhodes 1, were headed down to Flordia from their home state of Texas for a family vacation, or what they thought would be.

On the night of July 11th, Rhodes became extremely clingy and not acting like his normal perky self. He was weak, and restless, and began to develop a fever as well as a runny nose. At first thought, allergies were assumed until Paige noticed tiny purple dots and bruising in odd places on Rhodes's body. On the mother's true instinct, Paige and Colby rushed to the urgent care to check on baby Rhodes. The urgent care center sent the family to the hospital nearby for bloodwork to be tested.

After they received the bloodwork the following morning (07/12), the doctor entered the room. The doctor said, "Mr. and Mrs. Tindle, can you sit down for me." Words that sent chills down their backs. They were told that their 15-month-old baby boy was diagnosed with Leukemia.

Since diagnosis, Rhodes and his family have been transferred to Children's Hospital in Pensacola Flordia. Sweet Rhodes went into surgery this morning, on July 13th where doctors successfully put in his port and now the family is awaiting chemotherapy for their 15-month-old son.

Thankfully, Paige's family lived close by in Fairhope, Al and can support them as they need as well as take care of younger sister Jolene.

The family lives in Dallas, Texas, and will not be able to return as they are in Pensacola seeking treatment for the time being. Cancer treatment can be very costly—the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation notes that treatment can cost tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars for a child with cancer. In addition to treatment, other costs add to the already mounting stack of medical bills, such as food, lodging, and transportation. Please consider helping this sweet family out and fight this cancer together!