Charley's Arrangements

Friends of Charley,

The Cherng Family invites you to Calling Hours at Rand-Pickering Funeral Home in Westborough on Monday, September 3 from 6-8pm.

Rand-Pickering Funeral Home
62 West Main Street
Westborough, MA 01581
http://www.westboroughfuneralhome.com
(508) 366-4458

All are invited to a graveside service for Charley at Mountain View Cemetery in Shrewsbury on Tuesday, September 4 at 1pm. The service will be followed by lunch at Imperial Buffet, one of Charley's favorite places to eat.

Mountain View Cemetery
Route 140, just north of Main Street
(Nearby address: 19 Church Street)
Shrewsbury, MA 01545
http://shrewsbury-ma.gov/cemetery/index.asp
(508) 841-8503

Imperial Buffet
(Next to Price Chopper on Route 9)
380 Maple Avenue
Shrewsbury, MA 01545
(508) 890-8889

Thank you for your prayers of sympathy and love. Below is Charley's drawing of Jesus protecting him from a demon. (From last September) " Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1Corinthians 15:57

Condolences received on August 31, 2007

Condolences received on August 31, 2007

Posted on Blog

Posted by Sara Helberg Barresi to Pray for Charley at August 31, 2007 9:23 PM

My life has been touched by the life of Charley. I didn't have the privilege to meet him but was so awed by his journey and the joy he brought to others. Charley's pictures captured his beautiful smile, that all will have imprinted in their hearts. I'm so sad to know he has left us. My thoughts are to his family and friends. God Bless.

Posted by Nicole Eggleston to Pray for Charley at August 31, 2007 7:13 PM

I am a good friend of Erin's and I've been getting updates and praying for Charlie for some time. I was sad to hear the news of his passing from Erin, but I know that his pain has been lifted and he's in a better place. I will continue to pray for his family and keep Charlie in my heart forever.

Sent Through Email

林飞的Blog

不知道大家还记得田田这个孩子么？我曾经在日记中多次提到他的情况。这个命运多舛的孩子经历了比常人多得多的磨难，患上白血病后被亲生父母所遗弃，被送到福利院后，因为无钱维持治疗而使本应定期常规进行的化疗变得断断续续。虽然后来被一对善良的华人夫妇收养，带到了美国，但是之前断续的治疗已使他对很多药物产生了抗药性，病情多次复发，甚至连主治医生都有放弃的想法，即便这样，这对夫妇也从未放弃对田田的治疗，阅读了大量的资料，给田田提供了很多替代疗法，所做的一切努力都是为了让田田活下去，得到最适合的治疗。

就在这个周二，他们的博客（http://helpcharley.blogspot.com/）中还写道说田田之前居高不下的白血球坏细胞神奇的降了下来，这是一件非常好的事情，但同时因为出现呼吸问题住进了ICU加护病房。紧接着周三的博写道说田田的情况维持稳定，白血球继续下降，并且肺部呼吸的问题有所改善。看起来似乎情况都还算好，这次进ICU会像田田以前的几次那样，很快就可以化险为夷。但让人非常意料不到的是，到了美国当地时间周四下午，田田的情况突然恶化，就在他过5岁生日前的十几分钟，永远停止了呼吸……田田这位可爱的天使永远的留在了慈爱的天父身边……

让我们为田田祝福吧，祝福他回归天家的路上平安、顺利！

From Huang Ying

I am so sorry to hear that Charley has left us!

But we have the comfort knowing that Charley now is in a peaceful land with no pain and no suffer. I am sure God will get him all the rewards he deserves.

Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help! Take care!

We will pray for you!

From Tsung Lin

Just a while ago, for EWPI reasons I called Mr. Bai. From him, I heard that Charley has passed away early morning Asia time today. I let the other colleagues in office know the sad massage right away. We all share the sorrow in your hearts. We all know the incredible amounts of love you two gave him and the all out efforts you two persisted on, in trying to help him. I believed that Charley left this world with all the love from you, and that was all the most important.

From Lang Chou & Jean

We share the sorrow in your heart. We hope the attached will relief some of that.

Please accept our condolence.

From Rita and Zi

It was very hard for Zi and I to hear about Charley.
Our prayers are with you and your family.
Please let us know if we could be of any help at this difficult time.
with love.

From Jing Liu

Please bring our best wishes with Charley. A new and peace life is just starting.

From Chi-Ming and Jenny

Please accept our deepest sympathy for your lost. Charley will continue to live in our hearts.

From Ken Young

I'm deeply sorry to hear this news.

However, knowing that life is a continual journey, although his "physical" life has ended, but his spiritual life will last forever, and we all know that he is in a much better place, with our Heavenly Father by his side, holding him in His arms...there's no place better than in Heaven with Jesus and our Father, taking care of him days and nights....no more needles and pain and antibiotics....

I agree that the "battle" is not only a "physical" one, but a "spiritual" one, since I believe not only non-believers (non-Christians), but believers' (Christians) faith will be shaken when sad things happen to us. We must continue to pray for the family, friends, relatives, that the Lord Himself will touch and comfort them, heal their wounds, and speak to their hearts, to let them know that He has never deserted them, but takes care of them every second of their lives.

2 verses came to my mind:

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Philippians 1:21

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain"

Our prayers will be with you all.

From Dahong Sun

It is very sad to hear that Charlie passed away yesterday afternoon.

We are all being touched by the overflowing love shown by you.

He will be happy with his heavenly Father.

You have done your best.

Grace and peace

From Alex Lu

As part of the prayer support team, we are very sad to hear this news. However, I truly believe that the Lord has been with Charlie till the very last minute of his life. The witness of Charlie's life will remain in all of our memories. You have done all you could to be supportive and faithful. I believe that the Lord is delighted of your action and your faith.

I will be continuously praying for you, for I believe that there must be a reason for what you have been going through. Please trust Him in your prayers!

From Ronald Bosch

My sincere condolences- we are thinking of you.

From Julie, Mark, Ruthie, Abbie Babich CAWLI parents

We are so sorry for your loss and sadness. Mark and I have been praying for you all and will continue to do so.... Love.

From Lee Yih
So sorry to hear of Charley's passing today, but it is our loss and his gain. You have fought a valiant fight for his life, and the Lord will bless you as He has promised in the scriptures. We are peaceful as we center ourselves in His will.

From Weidong Lu and Xiao Ping

I was deeply saddened when I heard about Charley's death as I called Nehemiah that day. Charley was a wonderful and loving boy whom we all loved him so much. Charley was also a happiest boy in the world because he had his family and deeply loving farther and mother, Nehemiah and Deborah. My wife and I are thinking of you in this time of sorrow. For me, I feel privileged to have provided some assistance for Charley and know now he is at a better place.

Please accept our heartfelt condolences.

With love and sympathy,

From Pastor John Taylor

Dear Brothers and Sister of The Faith,

It is with great sadness in my heart to tell you that Charley Cherng died Thursday afternoon just before 5pm. Charley would have turned 7 in October.

Nehemiah and Deborah thank you for your love and prayers throughout Charley's courageous battle with cancer. Charley was steadfast in his faith in Jesus and will always be an inspiration to us all to keep the faith. Our hearts break but we also celebrate Charley's reception
into Heaven. That he is at peace, freed from his physical suffering. Charley died knowing he was loved by God and by his Mom, Dad, and church family. Without Nehemiah and Deborah's courage and love to adopt Charley he would have never known such love. We weep with them and will walk with them through their grief. As Jesus says, Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."

It was my great honor to represent our church and the grace of God in all my visits and prayers with Charley and his family. I believe that he was an angel that was sent by God to teach us of His mercy and grace. I know that it was not God's plan for Charley to die of cancer. However, God has provided a home in Heaven where Charley is no longer sick or suffering. Charley thanks God for bringing him to America so that he could be given a name, that he would feel special and loved, (Psalm 139) and that he would have the great love of a Mom and a Dad.

The Cherng Family invites you to Calling Hours at Rand- Pickering Funeral Home in Westboro on Monday, September 3 from 6-8pm. All are are invited to a graveside service for Charley in Shrewsbury on Tuesday September 4 at 1pm.

There will be a Memorial Service for Charley at First UMC on September 15 at 1pm. All are welcome.

Thank you for your prayers of sympathy and love. Below is Charley's drawing of Jesus protecting him from a demon. ".. thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." – 1 Corinthians 15:57
In Christian Love

From 鄧雯玉

剛聽到林博士說到關於田田的事，感到非常震驚。

在你們如此全心全意的照顧下，田田仍然蒙主召喚了。

我知道現在講什麼安慰的話其實對你們來說沒什麼用處。

我想說說我的想法。

我覺得田田是位天使，雖然在我們眼中他是個苦命的天使，

但在他短短的生命中，他仍然讓我們看到了那屬於天使般的純真、善良、勇氣、光與愛 !

在他辛苦對抗病魔的情況下，

他仍然想對別的與他有類似處境的孩子們，獻出他的愛與關心 !

他仍然想要給這個世界歡樂 !

並且，

他讓妳們兩位真正地感受到，因為身為父母所付出的完全無私的奉獻，

這是沒有做過父母的人或者不關心孩子的父母所無法真正體驗的寶藏。

從這些地方

可以看到田田的幸福，

因為他在他生命的最後歷程中，他得到了那種難能可貴、世間最偉大的愛，包括父母、包括所有關心他的人。

也可以看到田田達成了此生的任務

帶給這個看似冷漠的世界，ㄧ種偉大的愛、激發你們以及這個世間對苦難病童的關注。

並帶給妳們

永遠美麗且獨一無二的記憶

或許

在人世間的人們對於死亡是充滿恐懼的

但對田田來說，

他完成了此生最偉大最艱困的任務，

回到了上帝的身邊，

他或許得到了上帝的鼓勵，正被上帝摸摸頭並告訴他，他是個最棒的孩子、最棒的天使、最棒的小太陽。

我們這些尚活在人世間的人們，

應該好好學學他，

努力不放棄的活著，

真正好好地用著這活著的每一天，

去做對得起自己、也不辜負上帝及關心我們的人的事，

這樣的我們是不是才能跟田田一樣有著美麗的心、堅強的勇氣、以及去達成神聖的使命呢。

程博士與曉慧姐，這段時間，妳們辛苦了。

田田已經得到他想要得到的體驗了，而田田充滿愛心的爸爸媽媽，也該為自己好好想想，靜靜地收拾心情，接受他、放下他、並祝福他 ….

From 夏跃胜

你们好！今天突然从北京白先生那里得到上帝已经带走了你的爱子，上帝可能更喜欢他，请我们为他祝福，希望他在天堂快乐，同时也保佑着你们平安！我不知道孩子真实的病情，我说话不当之处，请你们原谅！我只是想救他！我真的好伤心，要是早一点多好，请你们很快能从悲痛中解脱出来，人生的路很长，上帝或许在考验你们，以后会给你们更大的荣耀和幸福。你有什麽话可直接用英文打，我知道你打汉字很困难，我能看懂．
愿上帝保佑孩子在天堂快乐！
节哀！

From Steward Yeh’s family and the church in Chaiyi, Taiwan

It is very sad to hear that Charlie passed away the day before yesterday. We don’t know how to say about it but we know now he is with our heavenly Father and forever peace.

Dear Nehemiah and Debora we will continue our prayer for you and your relatives. Someday we will meet with Charley. I already bought兒童讀經 and try to mail to you but….We all love Charley! We miss him!

Grace and peace.

From Frank Lee

It is very sad to hear that Charlie passed away yesterday afternoon. On the other hand, we are happy to know that Charlie is with his heavenly Father now in forever peace. We are all being touched by the overflowing love shown by so many people who care about Charlie and you.

Charlie's life on earth although is so short his fighting spirit has encouraged many of us to love each other, to do good things for others and most important to have faith in our heavenly Father.

The battle is not over yet, we will continue our prayer for you and your relatives. May His love be our driving force to touch more people with His love.

Grace and peace

From Bruce He

God bless you all! Charley has not lost. He won the great parent's love.

From Donna Harris
I am so sorry to read this. He was a person capable of giving so much to the world...and the wonder is that he did, in spite of his illness.

From Marion and Sarah
We are so sorry to hear that Charley is gone. I believe that he knew that he was surrounded by love and kindness in his life, which gave him comfort even as the struggle was so difficult. You did all that you could do - all that any of us can do - in the face of a fight that couldn't be won.

From Jeanne Seres
I am so sorry to hear that Charley has lost his courageous battle to stay here on Earth with you, his family and all the other people he touched so deeply in his short life.

It is never easy to lose a child, even when we have seen them suffer as Charley did. But, hopefully, the path to peace for all of you who loved and cared for him will be short. My "knowing" heart is with his parents.

Charley, I know for certain, will be with all of you on this journey to peace ~ His infectious smile and spirit guiding you along the path to acceptance. He will send you thoughts and signs to make you smile at thoughts and mental pictures of himself free of tubes, needles, pain and infirmity ~ playing with Jesus and the angels. Look around ~ You will find them in the strangest places ~ but they will be there ~ I know.

Charley's Race is Over - He is with the Lord

My dear friends,

This is just the hardest update for me to write to you. This afternoon (Thursday) Charley passed away at about thirteen minutes before five.

Grandma and I arrived at the hospital around noon. Charley's lungs were having difficulty keeping up with his breathing apparatus, his heartbeat was very rapid, and he had low blood pressure...he was sleeping. There was a beautiful Chinese hymn being played on the CD player. "Jesu ai ni"...Jesus loves you. They had x-rayed his lungs and were to give him a red blood transfusion....technicians and doctors came in to do another test first, and I had to leave the room because it was just too crowded with all the machines and the medical teams. Later on they called me to come back to the room.

God peacefully took Charley as His very own. Mom was lovingly swabbing his dry lips, dad, grandma, three very dear friends, and I, all had our hands on him as we prayed and told him how much we loved him. The chaplain, social worker, doctors and medical staff were so sympathetic, kind, and gentle.

Oh, yes, Deborah, Nehemiah and grandma certainly need God's gentle touch.
Please, please remember this wonderful family often in your prayers.

How can we ever thank you enough for all of your prayers and support throughout this last year?

God bless you all.

Thank you.
Maddy


From Erin:

Charley's race is over. He is now at peace and with the Lord. Amen for the beautiful life that Deborah and Nehemiah gave him! And praise God for all that Charley has given us - love, amazing friendships, a stronger appreciation for all we have, and most importantly, a renewed faith in God. Thank you, Charley, for all you have done for us. May your legacy live on through each of us. You have made us all better people.

The arrangements will be posted on this site as soon as we know them - probably in the next day or so.

We are asking that Charley's friends use discretion in contacting his parents. As you can imagine, this is such a tough time for them and they have requested to grieve in privacy for at least the first few days. Please do leave your comments below this entry and Deborah and Nehemiah will read them when the time is right.

Thank you for being part of Charley's life. It was beautiful. Now he is off to do some bigger and better things with the Lord. Amen!

Charley's Update

Today, Charley remained stable. This morning, Charley's chest x-ray showed improvement in Charley's lung volume. However, the right upper lobe is showing an area of concern. We pray that these are not early signs of pneumonia.

The doctors are hoping to drop the levels of the drugs dopamine and norepinephrine, which support Charley's blood pressure. This is a very slow process as they have to carefully wean Charley off the drugs.

Also, this morning, Charley's bilirubin level was elevated. This could be caused by the infection or the medicine.

On Saturday night, Pastor Bill told Deborah that something was happening. What Deborah and Nehemiah have observed since then is a drop in Charley's WBC. Today, Charley's WBC was 900. The doctors are surprised and happy about this.

Prayer Requests:
1.) God can watch over Charley's lung and set it free of any pneumonia or other infection.
2.) The process of reducing Charley's blood pressure drugs will go smoothly.
3.) That Charley's bilirubin level can return to the normal range.

Charley Tuesday Night

My dear friends,

As I said on Sunday things change very quickly with Charley...I have some very good news and some not so good news. The not good news first, Charley went into ICU yesterday because he was having a very difficult time breathing. He has a bacterial infection and they had to intubate him to assist his breathing. His is breathing much better as of tonight. Once they figure out which bacteria it is, they will provide him with the right antibiotics. This morning he had a fever but after treatment, his fever went back down.

Nehemiah said to me tonight that, "God is so good!" Charley's WBC had been very high a few days ago...it was at 60,000 cells over the weekend, then on Monday it was "dramatically" reduced to 23,000...and today (Tuesday) his WBC is 3,000. This is very, very good news.

But Charley needs your prayers:

Thanks so very much,
Maddy

* Please God, help Charley to win this battle against leukemia.
* Please pray that the medical team will continue to find the best treatments for Charley, especially for this infection that is attacking his breathing.
* Please pray that Charley's breathing will become stronger and that he will be able to fight off this infection.
* Please pray for Deborah and Nehemiah to stay healthy and strong in mind and body.

Urgent Prayer Request: Charley in the ICU

Friends of Charley,

Charley needs your prayers at this moment. Last night, he had fevers and the doctors later determined that he has another gram-negative infection. They should know the strain by tomorrow morning. In the meantime, Charley is on several antibiotics.

Charley also has a gastrointestinal bleed. His platelets were low today and his body was not able to keep the platelets from his transfusion. This may be a reason for the bleed.

Charley was taken to the ICU today because he needs the Bi-Pap mask to aid his oxygen level and breathing. He is now on 7-South.

God blessed Charley today with a lower white blood count. For days, his WBC has been rising. Yesterday, it reached 63,000. But today it went down to 27,000! Praise God! Charley needs your prayer to overcome this evil infection so that God can continue his work fighting the cancer's effect on Charley.

Last night, Charley attended a healing service in Waltham. He was blessed by the prayers of so many brothers and sisters. Over the microphone, Charley proclaimed that he will not fear and that he has faith that he will overcome this battle! Go Charley!

Deborah and Nehemiah are unable to use their cell phones in the ICU. If you need to contact them, the room number is 617-355-9717.

Prayer Requests:
* Pray for quick healing of the infection so that God can continue His work in healing Charley.
* Pray for Charley's platelet levels to go back to where they were a couple days ago so that his internal bleeding can stop.
* Deborah and Nehemiah will continue to be blessed with strength to help Charley, maintain their faith, and to stay healthy.

From Maddy

Hi all,

There have been so many changes from day to day for Charley and his family, that once I write something and then ask his parents if it is ok, then something else changes...but as of now (Sunday at noon) this is what I know: I visited with him on Wednesday and he was a little cranky and tired at first, he was on the new treatment. Later in the day he had more energy and was looking with interest at a new toy.

His parents are tired and especially concerned about the rising white blood count. Yet his parents are so full of hope and belief in God's healing. The doctors have devised a plan.

I meant to mention this before, but his parents are asking everyone to pray with them at 10:00pm daily, so that we might bombard Heaven with our numerous and wholehearted prayers for Charley's healing.

-Maddy

Saturday August 25, 2007

Dear Friends of Charley,

Charley has had some changes in his treatment plan this week. On Tuesday, he started his clinical trial drugs, rapamycin and methylprednisone, that were to help Charley to be more sensitized to steroids. After 3 days, Charley was taken off the trial because his blast levels kept increasing and needed he chemotherapy. Charley is still on the medicine, along with a newly added low-dose chemo, cytoxan (CTX). It is sort of encouraging that his WBC did not increase since late Thursday.

Charley’s parents are grateful to God for a miracle this week. For reasons unknown to his doctors, Charley went 3 days with no nose bleeding and without needing a platelet transfusion while Charley’s white blood count and blasts are still high. This is the longest time Charley has been without a platelet transfusion in months! Praise God for blessing Charley with such surprises!

Deborah and Nehemiah are so grateful for the healing prayers that many are bringing to Charley’s bedside. Their prayers and words of faith and encouragement have been a strong source for strength for them. This morning, Pastor Bill came to Charley’s room for a healing service. Tonight, Deborah and Erin attended Pastor Bill’s “Maturing in Christ” service in Waltham as Nehemiah, Teresa and David attended yesterday’s meeting. Tonight’s meeting dedicated 20 minutes to a special prayer for Charley. Furthermore, a group of intercessors in China have joined Charley’s prayer network around the clock today.

This evening, Charley will probably be busy watching his new Transformer DVDs from his grandparents in China!

Prayer Requests: * Praise God for Charley’s stable platelet levels in past few days. May he have more miracles in store for Charley! * The new chemo will help reduce Charley’s elevated WBC and blast levels. * God will continue to fill Charley’s room with faith, prayer and praise. Meditation: “The Lord says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you.” (II Kings 20:5, Bible)

Update from Madeline

Dear Friends of Charley,

Please remember Charley and his family in yourprayers.

The doctors have begun a new treatmentfor him. It began yesterday (Tuesday) and afterThursday's treatment, the medical team will decide whether to continue with this treatment or to switchto a low-intensity single chemotherapy drug. Charley's white blood count continues to rise but the amount of Blasts in his white blood cells also continue to rise. The goal is to have no Blasts whatsoever. Doctors are carefully monitoring his white blood count with the hope that the trend will bereversed or slowed. They have inserted another PIC line which will allow them to speed up treatment. I saw Charley today. He was tired, and a littlecranky, but after a while he perked up and was interested in new toys and games.

Prayer requests:

• Please pray that God will continue to be closeto this special familyPlease pray that these treatments will help tobring Charley's cancer into remission.
• Please pray for Deborah and Nehemiah, thatthey will continue to have strength and endurance.
• Please pray for wisdom for the medical team,that God will guide their heads and their hands.

Prayers for Charley's New Chemo

Friends of Charley,

Tomorrow, Charley will start a new clinical trial drug. Please pray that this chemotherapy will work to clean Charley's body. Since Charley has been without chemo, his blasts have increased. Let's pray that the new chemo can reverse this.

Charley is the first patient for this trial, which opened up just in time for Charley to join. Pray that this will be God's route to healing Charley.

Amen!

A Better Day

Today was a peaceful day for Charley and his family. He did not need a platelet transfusion and his bilirubin level is coming down. His energy was better this afternoon.

Charley's gram-negative bacteria has been identified. He will need 1 week without the gram-negative bacterial infection in order for him to enter the clinical trial.

Before the trial, Charley will have a bone marrow test before the trial begins.

Tomorrow, friends of the Cherngs, David and Teresa, will come to help with Charley's care.

Prayer Request:
* Bring David and Teresa Sun to Charley's home safely tomorrow.
* Continue to bless Charley and his family with many more peaceful days.
* Charley's friends will continue to join others in prayer for him at 10pm each night.

Infection Gone, Please Pray for Bilirubin Level!

Dear Friends,

Last night's bacteria culture is negative and Charley's fever has been gone since this morning. Thanks for the joint prayer at 10 PM last night! We still need to keep the infection away so that Charley can start his new protocol early next week.

This morning, Charley had an episode of nose bleeding. It was more blood than usual.

Today's bilirubin is somewhat elevated. Please pray that Charley's bilirubin can drop back to normal so he can be eligible for a clinical trial.

Last Thursday, the Chinese Association of Healing Rooms (Rhode Island-based and serving NYC and Boston areas) had a healing service in Waltham. Pastor Huang from California prayed for Charley. A group of coworkers came to Charley's room prayed for Deborah, grandma and
Charley. The other coworker visited Charley on Monday to help Charley's parents. On Thursday, they even brought foods for them and stayed whole day at Charley's bedside. This gave Deborah and Nehemiah a lot of comfort. This evening, a coworker and spouse stayed with us to play with Charley and to strengthen the parents both spiritually and physically
(delicious food!).

Overall, Charley has been active today. He has enjoyed drawing, shopping and watching his
favorite children programs. Praise the Lord!

Prayer Requests:
* Charley's body can keep the infection away.
* Charley's bilirubin levels can return to a normal range so that he can be eligible for a clinical trial.
* Charley's nosebleeds will be less severe, or even stop.
* Charley and his family will continue to be blessed by dedicated friends who bring them an abundance of strength, love, and support.

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST

Dear Charley’s Friends and Family,

Charley needs more prayer. Because of fluid in his abdominal area and infection, he has been taken off his most recent chemo treatment.

There is a new protocol that Charley may soon be eligible for, but first he needs your prayers to overcome his battle with infection. The new protocol is an immunosuppressant that has been found to sensitize patients to steroids. Charley’s cancer has a history of not reacting to steroids. However, this drug, rapamicine, could cause a normally non-working steroid to slow the progression of the cancer and to shrink his liver. Charley meets all of the criteria for this treatment, except for one – he has an active infection.

Today, the doctors determined that Charley has a gram-negative infection in his bloodstream. He has just begun treatment with antibiotics and we pray that by Monday his medical team can have control of the infection so that he may begin the rapamicine.

Prayer Requests:
* Charley’s body will be receptive to the antibiotics.
* Charley will be eligible for the new protocol starting Monday.
* Charley’s doctors will have the wisdom to make decisions to help Charley’s overcome this battle.
* Charley will not continue to have stomach pain as he fights this infection.
* Deborah and Nehemiah will be granted strength through sleep, nutrition, and faith so that they can continue to care for Charley and each other.

Prayer Request - Fluid in Abdominal Area?

To Charley's Friends,

Yesterday, the doctors sensed that there might be fluid in Charley's abdominal area. If this is the case, he won't be able to take his current chemo. They are going to do an abdominal untrasound today to determine whether or not he has fluid there. Please pray that this can be quickly resolved so that Charley can continue with his treatment as planned.

Thanks,
Erin

Pray at 10pm for CHARLEY!

To Charley's family and friends all over the world,

Deborah and Nehemiah have requested that we establish a time when we can all bow our heads each day to ask for God's grace in healing Charley. In addition to your regular prayers for Charley, please pause what you are doing at 10pm (your local time) to pray for Charley. Let's join each other to ask for God's hand in healing Charley.

Also, some churches have chain prayer systems of praying around the clock. Others have prayer networks and group prayers. We ask that you help to shield Charley from the attack of the evil by asking your church community to join us in prayer for Charley.

If possible, please inform us of your special group prayers through the blog commentary or e-mail charley.cherng@gmail.com.

Thank you for your prayers. He will hear us!

No more seizures, New battle: Fevers

Photos: Charley at home with his new airplane on 8/3 and in the hospital on 8/10.



Dear Friends,

We are all thankful for many things this week. The bleeding in Charley's brain stopped and that he has had no more seizures since his emergency last weekend. As his 3rd week of Chemo continues, today's blasts are less than 500 with 10 ANC. Also, Charley's mindset and behavior are back to normal, and he has somewhat of an appetite.

Charley has been battling fevers since noon on Saturday. His temperature has been fluctuating and reached 39.6 and dropped to 37.1 this evening. So he is resuming antibiotic treatment.

Charley has also been having belly pain and continues to have low blood counts. His spleen and liver are enlarged. His lymph nodes has gone down and we pray that his liver and spleen will follow.

This evening, Charley played with his visitors and enjoyed sitting with his mom. He did some drawing and watched Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Finding Nemo. We were all happy to see him get up and want to play.

Prayer requests:
a. That Charley has no major internal bleeding
b. That the effort of allocating HLA-matched platelet transfusion can provide Charley with better-matched/safer transfusions.
c. No more fever and infections.
d. Charley's spleen and liver will get smaller so that he can be more comfortable.

Mother Knows Best

To Charley's Family and Friends,

I have been blessed with a lot of time with the Cherngs these past couple days. So here are some updates...

From Saturday through Monday, Charley received platelet transfusions, epilepsy medication, and a drug to promote clotting around the clock in the ICU. On Monday, Charley had a repeat CT Scan that showed no new bleeds in his head, so he moved to 6-North. He has not had any seizures since Saturday.

Yesterday evening, Charley went down to the gift shop to get a transforming truck toy. I am surprised that Charley can still find fun things he likes at the gift shop since he surely has been their best customer for months and owns most of the toys in the shop!

Today, Charley slept most of the day. For the past few days, he has had very little energy and has been easily agitated. Also, he has shown much confusion and has not been responding to people around him. The doctors could not give a definite reason for his behavior. But Deborah knew exactly what was going on and pushed for Charley’s anti-seizure medicine to be changed. So the doctors have been tapering down the Dilantin and have been increasing Charley’s doses of Keppra. This evening, Charley woke up ready to watch a movie and play! The neurologist came in, saw Charley, and asked Deborah if she had a medical background. She has more than a medical background –- she has first-hand around-the-clock experience and a mother’s instinct!

Throughout the day, Charley has experienced nosebleeds. Each time Charley has a new symptom, Deborah and Nehemiah are quick to adjust Charley’s nutritional supplements accordingly. To help the more frequent nosebleeds, Charley will be getting more Vitamin K from green vegetables.

Tonight, Charley will get the 3rd dose of his chemo.

-Erin

Prayer Requests:

• That Charley's bleeding will stop and that his platelets will be protected.
• That the transition from one antiepileptic medicine to another will be smooth.
• That God can work through the chemo to cleanse Charley’s bone marrow.
• For God’s arms to embrace Charley as he deals with any side effects from today’s chemo.
• Lord, help Deborah to get more sleep so that she can continue to be healthy and strong for Charley.

Stable, but Weak

Hello friends,

We are glad to report that Charley is currently stable -- although quite weak. He has no other seizures. Charley gets nosebleeds from time to time and gets platelet transfusions once a day. Deborah and Nehemiah are awaiting the results of the platelet matching.

While in the ICU this past weekend, Charley was not able to take any foods (such as the vegetable broth) through the NG Tube. Charley was able to return the oncology unit on Tuesday. We thank God He stopped the bleeding. May Charley's platelet count go up. Pray the side effects to medication (clotting and anti-seizure meds) be limited.

Please continue to pray for Charley's own immune system to be strengthened to fight the cancer cells.

Thank you all so much.

In Christ,
Linda

Charley in Hospital with Seizures - More Prayers Needed

Dear Charley's friends,

Charley experienced a seizure Friday evening and was sent by ambulance to UMass Hospital. They determined from CT that he had bleeding in the brain. This is caused by low platelets. Charley was transferred to Children's Hospital and had another seizure Saturday morning. The neurosurgeon did not recommend surgery. Instead Charley is on medication to help clotting. He is also on an antiepilepsy drug. To stop the bleeding the Red Cross will try to find better matched donors so Charley's antibodies don't destroy the transfused platelets. Charley is receiving platelet transfusions around the clock. The risk of bleeding is not just in the brain but also other locations such as the lungs.

Charley took his second MTX (chemo) dose on Thursday. The initial dose the previous week was effective in reducing the cancer cells from 11,000 to 1,000. However this second dose was not as effective. They will continue to use nutritional therapies begun last Saturday ( July 28 ) to promote Charley's own immune system's defense against the cancer.

PRAY
Ask our Lord to stop the bleeding completely.
We seek His strength, guidance and deliverance.
May the nutritional therapies boost Charley's immune system for a
miraculous healing.
Pray for provision for procuring and preparing the nutritional foods.

Thank you all so much.
With much love,
Linda Shi