Child Life: An Integral Part of Marley’s Life-Saving Care
When her MRI revealed a baseball-sized brain tumor, 6-year-old Marley relied on her own indomitable spirit, an innovative treatment and a care team that would become an extended part of her family.
Child Life: An Integral Part of Marley’s Life-Saving Care
When her MRI revealed a baseball-sized brain tumor, 6-year-old Marley relied on her own indomitable spirit, an innovative treatment and a care team that would become an extended part of her family.
“Do you want to hear a joke about pizza?” Marley asks with a grin. “Never mind. It’s too cheesy!” 10-year-old Marley is a warm, bright spark of joy and creativity. She has an artistic flair and uncanny comedic timing. She enjoys painting and making people laugh.
“When I met Marley, the first word that came to my mind was ‘spunky,’" says Charlene (Carley) Larkin, a specialist in the Division of Child Life.
Carley and Marley formed a special bond as Marley and her family faced the unthinkable. When things grew dark, their time together became a source of light.
(Pictured) Child Life specialist Carley helped Marley find joy during her treatment at our Proton Therapy Center.
A Devastating Diagnosis
Parents Teresa and Billy vividly remember the moment they heard their daughter’s diagnosis: craniopharyngioma, a rare type of brain tumor that, as it grows, affects the function of the pituitary gland. When Marley’s was discovered, it was 8 cm and occupying most of the middle of her brain. “I was in complete shock,” Teresa recalls.
At 6 years old, Marley underwent an emergency craniotomy; over the course of 15 grueling hours, surgeons were able to remove 80% of the hard-to-reach tumor. During a scan five weeks later, doctors found the tumor had returned to nearly the same size. The expert medical team pivoted quickly, and a second craniotomy was performed.
“We were so impressed with how all of the different specialists—and there were many of them—came together and worked with us to develop her treatment plan,” Teresa remarks. “They thought of every possible scenario that could come up with Marley’s care and had an answer for everything.”
When she completed recovery and motor skill therapy, Marley began a six-week regimen of daily treatments at our Proton Therapy Center. That’s where she met Carley.
Animal therapy is an important part of the Child Life Program. Marley loved spending time with her therapy dog, Chevy.
Marley’s love for art and creativity became a core part of her daily treatment experience.
Exceptional Care Meets Needs Beyond the Medical
Like so many members of our employee family, Carley finds fulfillment in supporting families like Marley’s. “My greatest joy in my work is that I get to help families during their darkest times. It’s a privilege to walk this journey with them. I wouldn’t have this platform if the medical center didn’t believe in the value of Child Life. I’m proud to be in these rooms and walk these halls.”
Marley spent her prep time each day making art with Carley and having fun with her care team. She formed such close bonds with them that when her treatment came to an end, she was devastated because she knew how much she’d miss her Cincinnati Children’s family.
“Every day I go to work, I tell myself: this is a core memory for these families, so you better do a good job,” explains Carley. “For parents, hearing the initial diagnosis, watching their child go through the perils of treatment ... those memories may not fade. But I hope the warm memories we created together can come forward with time. I want them to remember how brave Marley was every day.”
Our Community of Supporters Fuels Innovation
Proton therapy is an innovation brought about by our quest to deliver safer and more effective cancer therapy for children. The pursuit of bold and compassionate ideas requires the support of many, including employee donors, like Carley.
“I’m passionate about donating to this work,” says Carley. “We dedicate our lives to healthcare, but there are more ways to give back. All of it matters, and even a little bit does so much.”
Children celebrate the end of their treatment journey by decorating a tree in the Proton Therapy Center with their favorite things.
Marley, the life of the party, never broke character as a mime; her brother, Will, memorized the entire "Golden Girls" theme song.
“None of this happens without philanthropy,” says John Perentesis, MD, co-executive director of our Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute (CBDI) and director of our Proton Therapy Center. “We have bold ideas, and the support from donors fuels innovation.”
Thanks to the revolutionary treatment made possible by donors to our Proton Therapy Center, Marley is living a joy-filled life almost four years after her initial diagnosis. She and her family go to local arts and crafts studios, where they create beautiful things together. They compete for funniest Halloween costume every year. They’re enjoying every moment of their success story, and they’re thankful to the care providers and employee donors that made it come true.
“We knew we were in the best possible hands and that gave us all the confidence in the world,” says Teresa. “I just feel so grateful that all the best doctors and researchers from around the world are right here. Marley is here today because of Cincinnati Children’s.”
With the recent launch of our new employee giving program, All for ONE, now is truly the best time to give. This is the perfect way to show gratitude and care for our colleagues, patients and community. Donations support those who can’t afford to pay for care, revolutionary research discoveries and education for the next generation of pediatric experts, so we can continue to be the leader in changing the outcome for all children.
When we personally give, it sends a powerful message: the work of Cincinnati Children’s is worth investing in. No amount is too large or too small; simply the act of giving, together, is our goal. Join your colleagues and give today to make a lasting impact on kids like Marley.