NEW PALESTINE — His blood is sick. That’s what Andrew Eyerman told his parents, Amber and Fred Eyerman, when he was recently diagnosed with leukemia for the second time in his young life.
Andrew, 5, New Palestine, and his family were making plans for him to start kindergarten at Sugar Creek Elementary School a few weeks ago when his mother and a close friend, Cari Roberts, noticed bruising on Andrew as he was getting out of a swimming pool.
“My heart kind of sank because I was afraid it might be a relapse,” Roberts said.
The family’s worst fears were confirmed. Andrew, who had just finished a 3½-year battle with leukemia diagnosed when he was a year old, is fighting the disease, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, once again.
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“He has the kind of leukemia that had a very high risk of coming back,” Andrew’s mother said.
Andrew, who has been back at Riley Hospital for Children getting chemotherapy since last week, could use some prayers, well-wishes and any support from community members.
Roberts, who is a lifelong friend of Andrew’s mother, is collecting cards, posters, toys and even gas cards for the family, who is making numerous trips to the hospital to see Andrew.
“He’s sad,” Roberts said. “He misses his siblings and his friends and just wants to be home or at school with his buddies.”
Due to COVID-19, only one parent can visit Andrew at a time, and no other visitors are allowed, making Andrew’s time at the hospital quite lonely.
“Cari came up with the idea of let’s try to cheer Andrew up,” Amber Eyerman said. “He’s all worried about missing school, and it’s hard to see his little mind worried about these big things.”
Andrew is the Eyermans’ youngest child. His siblings, Carson, a seventh-grader; and Samantha, who is in sixth grade, attend Southern Hancock schools. The siblings are trying to follow social distancing and safety standards so they can be sure to minimize Andrew’s exposure to COVID-19 when he gets to come home.
“It’s a difficult time for our whole family right now,” Amber said. “We’re doing all we can just to keep things normal for our kids.”
Doctors are conducting genetic testing on Andrew and hope the new leukemia is the same as he had before. That will give Andrew a better chance of beating the disease again.
“We’re hoping it didn’t mutate,” Amber said. “But, it looks like he’ll have at least three more years of chemotherapy. What is happening right now is super big to him.”
Should Andrew not respond to the chemo, doctors will make other plans for treatment; the family is bracing for what this new fight will look like.
In the meantime, the family and friends want to do all they can to keep Andrew in good spirits and let him and his siblings know they fully support them.
The first time Andrew was sick, his siblings were able to see him every day after school, but because of the pandemic, now they can’t.
“It’s super isolating for Andrew and other sick children here,” Amber said.
Jan Kehrt, principal at Sugar Creek Elementary School, said educators and students plan to do something special for Andrew but haven’t decided what that will be. But they want him in school just as soon as he is able.
“My heart is broken for this little guy,” Kehrt said.
Andrew’s mother is a nurse who was supposed to start a new job as a school nurse in the Warren Township schools, but she is uncertain how that will play out. Andrew’s dad is currently on family leave, so he can be the main caregiver for Andrew at this time.
Andrew, who loves firefighters and police officers, would be thrilled if any in the community might reach out and do a drive-by to wish him well when he can finally come home, might be as soon as this coming week. Still, he will have clinical work three days a week once he is finally released.
Anyone who wants to make a card, poster or color a get-well picture for Andrew can contact Cari Roberts through Facebook and get her address to drop off items, which she will give to the family to take to Andrew.
Supporters have also established a T-shirt campaign to raise funds to help pay for medical bills. Visit www.customink.com/fundraising/join-andrews-army-to-help-5-year-old-andrew-through-his-leukemia-relapse to get a shirt.
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Supporters of the Eyerman family are collecting cards, posters and get-well artwork for Andrew, 5, who is battling leukemia for the second time. Those who want to help can find Cari Roberts, of New Palestine, through Facebook to make arrangements to drop items off.
Supporters have also established a T-shirt campaign to help pay for medical bills. Visit www.customink.com/fundraising/join-andrews-army-to-help-5-year-old-andrew-through-his-leukemia-relapse to get a shirt.
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