Most little girls want dolls and toys for their birthdays, but one Summit girl’s wish was to help save lives.
On Thursday, North Pike Elementary School held a “Be a Hero” blood drive in honor of Charlie Kate Garrett.
United Blood Services, along with the school and Southwest Mississippi Community College, hosted the day just for Charlie Kate.
The 6-year-old kindergartener is fighting a rare disease known as juvenile dermatomyositis, an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks the muscles.
One of the primary symptoms of juvenile dermatomyositis — JDM, for short — is a rash, which is followed by weakening muscles. Everyday activities such as getting out of bed, turning over or swallowing become increasingly difficult.
Charlie Kate was diagnosed in June 2015 after her mom, Amanda Garrett, noticed a rash on the back of her knees and around her eyes.
Charlie Kate’s grandmother, Gail Townsend, said doctors told Garrett there was a possibility that Charlie Kate could have JDM.
Doctors scheduled a muscle biopsy in order to reach their diagnosis, which given its rarity can easily be overlooked.
“A lot of doctors still don’t know about the disease,” Townsend said.
The condition can affect adults as well. Many people may have the disease and aren’t aware of it.
“Don’t take rashes with a grain of salt,” Townsend said.
Charlie Kate has to traveled to Jackson to the Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital for treatment.
“She was going every seven days for six months to receive treatment. Now she has to go every 10 to 12 days,” Garrett said.
As part of her treatment, she sees a rheumatologist and has to take hydrosteriods.
Garrett said Charlie has missed 41 days of school due to her illness, but she is still a straight-A kindergarten student.
“North Pike has been very helpful. Charlie has to put on sunscreen because the disease is sun-sensitive, and her teacher Christi Fortenberry makes sure she puts it on every day,” Garrett said.
The school’s nurse, Denise Owens, has also been helpful throughout. She said Charlie has to wear a chemoport where she receives weekly infusions of medication, although the regimen doesn’t require treatment as drastic as chemotherapy. She also receives intravenous immunoglobulin treatments.
One bottle of an immunoglobulin treatment is made from platelets donated by 1,000 blood donors.
The strain has been difficult.
Garrett works as an occupational therapist at Courtyard Nursing & Rehabilitation, and her husband Jonathan works for Sanderson Farms.
Garrett said Charlie Kate has limited medical coverage.
She said her job and her church, Summit First Baptist, as well as family and friends have helped the family a lot.
She said Charlie Kate’s big sister McKayla also pitches in.
“She’s very supportive and helpful of her little sister,” Garrett said.
Some of the side effects of the medicine Charlie Kate has to take can be bad.
“She has significant meltdowns. She cries, screams, yells. She’s just a different kid,” Garrett said.
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Jay Bain, security officer at Southwest, also helped put the event together after hearing about Charlie Kate’s story.
He said he’s able to do things like this because he has great leaders that give him the leeway.
“I have a good chief and a good president that lets me do stuff like this,” Bain said.
Garrett and her family arrived at the college in SMCC and Mississippi Department of Transportation law enforcement vehicles.
“She loves the police, so we wanted to do something for her,” Jay Bain said.
Then, Charlie Kate, her mom Amanda and her sister McKayla met privately with President Steve Bishop at his home.
After meeting with the college president, the Garretts were whisked to the cosmetology school for pampering.
Then, the birthday girl was led to the Workforce Training Center, where cake, cupcakes and pizza waiting for her.
Each department at the college presented Charlie Kate and her family with presents.
She was followed around by a videographer so that every moment can be captured.
The icing on the cake, the college gave the family a gift certificate to the Caboose, where they took them immediately after the birthday party.
Pam Hughes, coordinator for United Blood Services said everything for the party was donated.
“We even got T-shirts with her name on them donated to us and we’ve never done that,” she said.
Garrett said Thursday’s drive was not just for Charlie Kate; it’s for everyone who will need blood.
“We get to save lives. Right, Charlie?” she asked her daughter.
“Yeah. That’s a pretty cool thing,” Charlie agreed.
