Evan the Warrior. That is the name that everyone has given to eight-year-old Evan Hutchison. He is one of Santa Clarita’s very own. Two and half months ago he was diagnosed with leukemia and since then he has under gone extensive treatments and will have to continue chemotherapy for three years. Evan is currently in the consolidation phase of treatment and looks forward to better days. Here’s what Evan has to say:
My name is Evan and I am eight years old. I live in the Santa Clarita Valley in Southern California, with my mom, Kimberly (who writes for me) and my brother, Ryan and my pug, Bubba. I have Pre B High Risk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. I am a third grader at Highlands Elementary School in Saugus and I am a Cub Scout with Pack two in Saugus.
Before the diagnosis I was just a normal, fun loving, happy go lucky kid, getting good grades, running around everywhere and generally bugging my older brother as most of us younger kids do. I have a mighty mite black belt in Hapkido, but I never use it on my friends or family. I am a bowler at the Santa Clarita Valley Lanes on the peewee league. I love the trampoline, sports, the beach and camping and amusement parks. I also love Lego’s, cooking and jokes. I am always looking for friends.
I love cars…the fancy ones and video games. I like to ask questions and talk with people. I love animals, especially dogs and cats and fish and anything albino. My favorite food is macaroni and cheese and I love to cook Rachael Ray’s meals. I enjoy watching the Discovery Channel. I love to learn and to design things and I love to laugh.
Let me tell you a little bit about what happened right in the middle of Mervyns Department Store on a Friday after school. There I was shopping for the coolest school shoes ever with my Mom and my brother and I got the worst pain in my hips and legs. Out of the blue it came and it was “call the ambulance” bad. I had to lie down on the curb of the parking lot it hurt so badly. I threw up it hurt so badly. Then I got a fever and everyone thought I had strep throat or the flu. But four days went by and I did not get any better. Then they saw my blood. I had a hundred million trillion or something like that of “blasts” and very few red blood cells. The “Pac Man” blasts were taking over my body and fast. The next thing I knew I was bundled up and in an ambulance and on the way to the hospital with leukemia.
Lucky for me Children’s hospital in Los Angeles knows just what to do about this. I have to have chemotherapy for three years. I am already in remission, but guess what? The leukemia cells hide. Remission is different for kids with leukemia. The bad guys go and hide where no one can see them and we have to spend three years finding them and killing them.
Right now the doctors are looking in my brain and spine for them. I am in Phase Two of Five. So far I have spent the whole entire summer fighting these bad guys. Before I started Phase Two, the doctors and nurses were looking in my blood. My Mom can tell you the exact words for what they are doing to get me better. It is working but sometimes I don’t feel so hot. The medicine is weird. It is sickening actually, but don’t tell anyone.
Everyone calls me Evan the Warrior. You can too. I know what it is like to persevere and to do your best and I think this is what will get me better…that and laughing and praying…a lot!
I am hoping you will like my Care page and I would love to hear from you! We are going to be doing a lot of things to help cancer kids all over the world, and me, so stay tuned. Send jokes anytime!
Love, Evan the Warrior
Leukemia is cancer of the blood cells. There are four main types of leukemia. Acute Lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common in children, but can also affect adults. This is the type of leukemia that Evan is affected by. Acute Myelogenous leukemia (AML) that can affect both children and adults. Chronic Lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common kind of leukemia in adults and rarely affects children, and Chronic Myelogenous leukemia (CML), which mostly affects adults. The cause of leukemia is still unknown.
Since Evan was diagnosed with leukemia fundraising effort began immediately to help with his medical expenses. This past August there were many events that took place in Evans honor. His friends held a fundraiser carwash and raised $515 to date. On August 4th there was a recycling drive at Highlands Elementary School, where Evan is currently a student. And on August 18th his Cub Scout-Pack Two was at the Concert in the Park and collected recyclables. All the efforts have raised more than $500 for Evan. All proceeds are contributed to the Evan Hutchison Fund; a benevolent account has been set up at Washington Mutual Bank. Visit your local Washington Mutual and ask a representative for help in donating to Evan’s account. All donations are welcome and appreciated. Evan was also recently asked to be the honored teammate for the Lavaman Triathlon in Hawaii 2008; the entire greater Los Angeles Leukemia and Lymphoma Team selected him. To learn more about this very courageous boy or to write words of encouragement go to www.carepages.com and type in evanthewarrior. Evan looks forward to reading the care page before he goes to bed at night.
Evan’s Warrior Women are currently setting up a website that will keep people updated on upcoming fundraisers, www.evanthewarrior.com .
For more information about Evan or how to help, please email Evan’s Warrior Women at evanswarriorwomen@gmail.com .