Local boy hero to Light the Night

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Just three weeks after his second birthday, Charlie March Gibson was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. Now he's five years old, and in remission. By November, doctors will declare Charlie cured of cancer.

"Charlie was diagnosed shortly after he turned two, he was sent home from daycare with a fever that didn't go away. And then, when we took him to get his blood counts drawn, his blood counts were all really low. So then he was admitted to Riley," said Lauren Goodman, Charlie's Mother.

Charlie Gibson was diagnosed with a form of Leukemia. He started weekly chemotherapy for eight months. Now he takes medicine every day, and takes monthly chemo through a port in his chest. During the first year of treatment, March-Gibson couldn't leave home much with the threat of being exposed to illness. His mom, Lauren Goodman, said the first years were the toughest.

"The first year was definitely the hardest, you know. I mean, having a two-year-old that can't walk because his legs are in so much pain and just not being able to take him out in public," said Goodman.

Charlie March Gibson now attends school and loves playing outside and riding his bike when he can. His favorite snack is bbq chips and enjoys trips to Imagination Station.

"What do you do at school, oh, that's a good question. At the beginning of the day, you play and then we do letter, recess, and then we have recess," said Charlie March Gibson.

"This year, he's going to lead the walk and he gets to talk a little bit about his experience with leukemia at the walk," said Goodman.

As Light the Night's honored hero, Charlie March Gibson will lead a group of people passionate about the fight against leukemia and lymphoma. People carry balloons as supporters, survivors, and those who have lost someone to the disease.

"It's just nice to have a group of people who have experienced a similar diagnosis that has gone through the same emotional roller coaster that we've gone through with this disease," said Goodman.

This year's walk is Thursday, September 22. It begins at Riehle Plaza in downtown Lafayette at 7:00.

Go to www.lightthenight.org to learn more about the walk, or how you can donate to the cause.

This year's local fundraising goal for Light the Night is just under 74,000 dollars.