On Saturday, Charley Quarles' family gave her a big 1st birthday celebration, as it may be one of the few she'll have. "I'm just so happy that she can be home for her first birthday," mom Macy Pratt said. "Because we didn't even think she would be here to see one."Charley was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer at 5 months old. She has stage 3 neuroblastoma. She has a solid tumor in her abdomen that's around the size of a baseball. Her mom, Macy, and dad, Cambron Quarles, spent the last roughly 170 days living in Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Ronald McDonald house, while Charley went through chemotherapy."Felt like it was never-ending, you know, waking up every day in the hospital room, you know, constantly having to deal with nurses coming in and out all day," Cambron said. Doctors approved them to delay treatments for a few days. That way, for the first time in months, the three could go home to have their little girl's birthday."She's lived most of her life in the hospital," Macy said. "It's just something that I've wanted so badly for her to just be able to be a baby like she's supposed to, and be surrounded by people that truly love her."The birthday was themed 'Charley's Carni,' with snow cones, big bounce houses, a tower of presents, and of course, a cake smash. Charley's grandmother, Leah Pratt, went all out for the party. Most of the machines and blow-ups were donated to the party by the companies too. Leah was thankful to have everyone home again. "Last night, was the first night I turned my ringer off, and I slept peacefully because I had all my loves under my roof," she said.But it won't be for long. A week ago, the family found out Charley's tumor is inoperable. The oncologist and surgeon told the family they'd never seen anything like it; it was as if the chemo hadn't touched her tumor. She was given a nearly zero percent chance of survival. The only option left is 15 more rounds of chemo."We're just going to keep fighting, and we're not going to stop because I'll never give up on her," Macy said. "I'm not going to give up on her until she's cancer-free."Others are fighting too. More than 80,000 people follow the Charley's Angels Facebook page from across the world. It's become a support page for others, as well as a way to update people quickly on Charley's advancements. Charley may even become the face of Hoxworth Blood Center."I never thought that she would be changing the world before she was 1," Macy said. "So I can't wait to see how many lives she's going to touch."The next phase of chemo is expected to last roughly 45 weeks. The family is able to go to the hospital for a few weeks at time, then come home for two weeks, and repeat.So milestone moments like her birthday party, and time with family, are even more special. The family prays this isn't the last."We're going to have even bigger birthday parties and the older she gets," Macy said. "This is just the beginning, and we're ready for what the future holds." Charley's mom plans to start a foundation soon called Rosey's Rainbows. Charley's middle name is Rose, and the rainbow symbolizes hope. The foundation will raise money to financially support other families going through a similar experience, since the family has been able to keep going through donations. Macy wants to extend that kindness to others.
On Saturday, Charley Quarles' family gave her a big 1st birthday celebration, as it may be one of the few she'll have.
"I'm just so happy that she can be home for her first birthday," mom Macy Pratt said. "Because we didn't even think she would be here to see one."
Charley was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer at 5 months old. She has stage 3 neuroblastoma. She has a solid tumor in her abdomen that's around the size of a baseball.
Her mom, Macy, and dad, Cambron Quarles, spent the last roughly 170 days living in Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Ronald McDonald house, while Charley went through chemotherapy.
"Felt like it was never-ending, you know, waking up every day in the hospital room, you know, constantly having to deal with nurses coming in and out all day," Cambron said.
Doctors approved them to delay treatments for a few days. That way, for the first time in months, the three could go home to have their little girl's birthday.
"She's lived most of her life in the hospital," Macy said. "It's just something that I've wanted so badly for her to just be able to be a baby like she's supposed to, and be surrounded by people that truly love her."
The birthday was themed 'Charley's Carni,' with snow cones, big bounce houses, a tower of presents, and of course, a cake smash. Charley's grandmother, Leah Pratt, went all out for the party. Most of the machines and blow-ups were donated to the party by the companies too.
Leah was thankful to have everyone home again.
"Last night, was the first night I turned my ringer off, and I slept peacefully because I had all my loves under my roof," she said.
But it won't be for long.
A week ago, the family found out Charley's tumor is inoperable. The oncologist and surgeon told the family they'd never seen anything like it; it was as if the chemo hadn't touched her tumor.
She was given a nearly zero percent chance of survival. The only option left is 15 more rounds of chemo.
"We're just going to keep fighting, and we're not going to stop because I'll never give up on her," Macy said. "I'm not going to give up on her until she's cancer-free."
Others are fighting too. More than 80,000 people follow the Charley's Angels Facebook page from across the world. It's become a support page for others, as well as a way to update people quickly on Charley's advancements. Charley may even become the face of Hoxworth Blood Center.
"I never thought that she would be changing the world before she was 1," Macy said. "So I can't wait to see how many lives she's going to touch."
The next phase of chemo is expected to last roughly 45 weeks. The family is able to go to the hospital for a few weeks at time, then come home for two weeks, and repeat.
So milestone moments like her birthday party, and time with family, are even more special.
The family prays this isn't the last.
"We're going to have even bigger birthday parties and the older she gets," Macy said. "This is just the beginning, and we're ready for what the future holds."
Charley's mom plans to start a foundation soon called Rosey's Rainbows. Charley's middle name is Rose, and the rainbow symbolizes hope. The foundation will raise money to financially support other families going through a similar experience, since the family has been able to keep going through donations. Macy wants to extend that kindness to others.
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