"I'm bald and I know it" says nine year old battling cancer

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March 12, 2012|By Susan Gager

KWCH 12 Eyewitness News — It's four words no parent wants to hear, your child has cancer. But it's news a couple in Rose Hill have taken twice, as their nine-year-old son battles a rare type of cancer.

But Charlie Futhey is using You-Tube to show his parents his strength to the fight the disease.

Charlie is just like any other kid his age. He's filled with infectious energy and ready to take on the world, but taking on cancer a second time blew his parents away.

“You don't think you're going to go through those emotions again but you do. I think as his parents, we were handling it rougher than him," said Charlie’s mom, Sandy Futhey.

Doctors first diagnosed Charlie in preschool with Desmoplastic Round Cell tumors, a very rare and aggressive cancer.

“At that time only 64 people in the country had it, been diagnosed with it,” said Futhey.

Charlie fought the cancer and for two years was cancer free. But in January, doctors discovered two nodules in his lungs and tumors in his abdomen area.

"It’s hard," says Charlie.

His parents will tell you nothing gets Charlie down. When his hair fell out a second time, he knew the drill.

“The first swipe of the razor he got a huge smile on his face and said “Alright. I'm back.’”

He took his incredible attitude a step further to You-Tube with a song called “I'm bald and I know it."

“I thought it would be cool to have a song and put it on You-Tube,” said Charlie.

“It's a different game going into third grade with a bald head, but I think he's such an inspiration to other kids,” said Futhey.

He’s more than inspiration. The kids rub his head for good luck.

“They come up and say oh it's so soft,” said Charlie.

Charlie has 18 months of chemotherapy to endure and has done two sessions so far. His parents say it's his spirit that gives them hope.

“When you look at that, you think how can we feel pity when this kid who is nine and did not sign up for this has such great spirit?” said Futhey.

As you might imagine, it's an incredibly long and expensive process. They are accepting donations through their website called Caring Bridge.

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