Local leukemia warrior ‘loves getting mail’ from the community

NASHVILLE-After coming home to enjoy a wealth of community support and additional encouragement from abroad, 14-year-old Evan Hayes has returned here to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital to continue his eight-year battle with leukemia.

Shortly after taking part in a benefit Jeep ride held in his honor, Hayes made the decision to start what his mother described as “a very high risk, intensive treatment plan” expected to last at least a month.

Since his return to the hospital, a renewed effort to send the local leukemia warrior letters and cards has been made by those who know him best.

They are encouraging the entire community to send cards and letters to Hayes during this difficult time, and the hospital also welcomes the effort.

“Letters and cards are a great way to make a patients’s day,” a hospital handout promoting sending mail said.  “If we get mail after a patient has gone home, we’ll forward it to their home address.”

Family friends promoting the letter drive also explained Hayes was appreciative of the gestures.

“He loves getting mail, so let’s all show him some love and start sending him some!” they said.

Cards and letters can be mailed to:

Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt

Evan Hayes Room #12311

2200 Children’s Way

Nashville, TN 37232

Since beginning his latest treatment, Hayes’ mother Stephanie gave an update on her son last week:

“Just a little update on Evan… He was admitted to the hospital last Wednesday,” Stephanie posted on Facebook on May 22, along with details about her son’s chemotherapy.  “He doesn’t feel well at all.  He has been in pain, which is somewhat controlled with meds, but not completely.  He hasn’t been sleeping well, and his hair has began to fall out again.

“I do not know the effectiveness of anything that he has received thus far.  His immune system is completely wiped out,” she continued   “He has required platelet and blood transfusions regularly.  His counts will have to recover before they are able to do any testing to see whether it has worked or not.”

When his mother announced the return to the hospital in a prior Facebook past, she explained it was her son who made the decision to do so.

“Evan said that he is not ready to leave this Earth and he wants to fight to live,” Stephanie posted on May 13.  “If you will please pray for him to have strength and please pray that this treatment will work.”