Valentine for Chewy

In just seven years of living, the local boy has battled a life-threatening disease and had to leave his home because of a mold infestation.

In his class at Caroline Street Elementary School, Chewy met a boy named Brad Hipsley. Brad’s mother, Beth, got to know the Stubblebine family and their situation well, and decided she needed to help them out.

What started as bringing over an occasional dinner has snowballed into a sort of fundraising mission. Next month will be Hipsley’s biggest contribution thus far; she and a group of area mothers have organized a Valentine Celebration of Love and Life to raise money for the Stubblebines.

The benefit starts at 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 8, at Longfellows Restaurant, and includes desserts, a cash bar, dancing and a performance by the band AudioStars. Hipsley said the idea for the event came from trying to duplicate a fundraiser she attended and enjoyed a few years ago.

“I’m really excited,” she said. “It should be a very fun and casual night. I hope a lot of people will turn out for it.”

Hipsley said she’s never done anything like the event before. She’s hoping the benefit will generate enough money for the Stubblebines to put a down payment on a house.

“My philosophy is that anytime you can help somebody, whether you know them or not, it’s worthwhile. I hope other people feel the same way,” Hipsley said.

Chewy’s mother, Terri, has been blown away by Hipsley’s efforts. Stubblebine said she holds great admiration for her.

“I just met her a little over a year ago, and she’s bent over backwards for me,” Stubblebine said. “It’s a big job getting a benefit together. She’s put in so many hours. I can’t thank her and her family enough.”

Over the years, there have been several fundraising events held for Chewy. In 2005, folks helped him collect approximately 370 different baseball hats. The following year, kids with buckets collected more than $5,000 for him at Little League games.

Even with all this help, Chewy’s acute lymphocytic leukemia remains a significant expense for the family. Stubblebine said they have good health insurance and her husband has a good job, but Chewy’s co-payments add up quickly.

Chewy, whose nickname has to do with chocolate not “Star Wars,” was diagnosed with ALL on Feb. 7, 2005, and began chemotherapy the next day. The boy receives oral chemotherapy on a daily basis, more intensive chemotherapy bi-weekly at Albany Medical Center, additional medication admitted through his chest once a month, and a spinal tap every three months.

The treatment program takes three and a half years, but in Chewy’s case it will likely be closer to four. Stubblebine said he’s never had a full dose of chemotherapy before because it’s extremely toxic to his body.

“It is working though,” she said. “He’s doing really well now.”

These days, Chewy loves playing baseball, football and basketball, but Stubblebine said the first year after he was diagnosed was very difficult.

“At times it’s been pretty scary. He’s been to death’s door and back a few times,” she said. “He’s made it through everything with flying colors. He’s a soldier, that’s for sure.”

Roughly a year into his treatment, Chewy’s family discovered their home in Malta had become infested with mold due to drainage problems. Since the mold was starting to get into the walls and could adversely affect the health of everyone in the family, they abandoned the house.

Since then, the family has been living in a rental house in Saratoga Springs. However, the rental may be up for sale this spring, and Stubblebine said they like to find a permanent place to call home again.

Stubblebine said the outlook for Chewy is good. She estimated his rate of survival at between 80 and 85 percent, which she added is far better than it would have been 20 years ago.

Stubblebine said there’s nothing she can say or do to amply repay all the people who’ve helped her family. She tries to do her part by raising awareness of the need for blood donors, and will be participating in a blood drive on Feb. 11 at the Elks Club in Ballston Spa that’s being held in honor of her son.

“We’ve certainly been blessed,” she said. “With this community’s help, we’re not alone. There are a lot of kind people who’ve been there for us.”