For those of you who didn't know Charlie, his rare cancer diagnoses were just some of the reasons that he was indescribable. Charlie was as resilient as he was miraculous and sweet as he was kind with a hint of annoying. And for those of you who did know him, knew it was more than just a hint. Explaining how special Charlie was is like explaining magic. It’s impossible to do, you just had to see it for yourself.
Before Charlie passed away on April 24th, 2022, we promised him that we would never let his legacy die. We would never stop talking about Charlie Capalbo because his legacy will continue to inspire groundbreaking research so that no child has to suffer the way Charlie did. We would keep his spirit alive by telling his story and of course, finding a reason to laugh every day, the way Charlie always did.
Cancer is a monster and represents so much suffering. But if I’ve learned anything, it is to never give up hope of finding a cure and to always believe in miracles. We promise to honor Charlie with every step we take on October 2nd, and every step we ever take.
Charlie battled a courageous fight against cancer four times, experiencing more life-threatening complications than any of us, and almost all doctors, can begin to wrap our minds around. He fought back with vengeance with each and every setback.
In the days following his diagnosis of Relapsed AML in January of 2021, Charlie said to me, “I know that I can beat this. I’m worried about what you’re going to have to see before I get there, but I know that I can beat this.” And he did. He beat cancer in the way that every single odd was stacked against him, and yet he persevered far longer than anyone could have imagined. And he beat cancer not only in the way that his story inspired thousands but in the way that his strength taught us something new each and every day; that even during the days in the hospital that he was quietly suffering beyond comprehension, he would never say no to a PT or OT session, as these represented an opportunity to make him physically stronger, to get back to that life he so deserved to live.
Charlie would never say no to another set of an exercise, and he would never complain. Walking for Dr. Scott Armstrong’s lab at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute gives us the opportunity to use our strength from Charlie to continue his legacy.
Thank you for your support!
