MEMPHIS, Tenn. — When the family of a then 9-year-old Caleb Lawalin learned that he would have to undergo radiation treatments in May 2021 for a rare form of brain cancer, his aunt Shonna Flynn made a Facebook post asking if some of her friends could donate a couple hats for Caleb to wear, as he would be losing his hair as a result of the treatment.
What followed was more than the family could have imagined, as thousands of hats arrived at the Ronald McDonald house during his 10-week treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.
“She thought we might get 20 to 25 hats and he could just swap them out and wear them,” Darcie Evans, Caleb’s mother, said. “That post got shared and then it went viral and it was everywhere. We were staying at the Ronald McDonald house at St. Jude, and we started getting packages and each day it grew and grew.
Ultimately, an entire room was dedicated to Caleb’s hats.
“It started with just my sister posting and we received hats from every state, Australia, China, Japan, they came from everywhere,” Evans said. “A lot of people shared their stories of things they have gone through. I enjoyed the letters more than anything and the positive thoughts and words that were shared.
“To me, it is a busy life and the thought that someone who didn’t know him or me took the time to sit down and write a letter and mail them, I think that is what gets me the most. Someone took the time out of the day to do that.”
Anglers from across the nation also stepped up to help Caleb, now 10, who discovered his love for fishing at 8 years old right before his health began to decline. Not only were thousands of different fishing related hats sent his way, but Darcie said he received 35 rods and lots of fishing tackle.
Among his favorite hats is one with the head of a bass protruding from the front while the tail extends out of the backside. Caleb wore that hat to several treatment sessions and became a “little celebrity” with the nurses at St. Jude, Evans said. He also received a hand-built fishing rod from a 12-year-old in Hawaii, along with a letter from the builder.
“I was absolutely amazed. I told everyone the fishing community has to be the most generous community out there,” Evans said. “We got a lot of hats from people, but however that got into the fishing community made it spread. That is where a lot of the posts got shared. I couldn’t believe it, and I had no idea that sort of community was out there.
“There was a group from Alabama that was at Lake Monroe for a competition, and they collected a bunch of stuff and dropped off a huge collection of stuff for him. There were so many people at the time that it was hard to keep track of everyone. We had anglers personally come to the Ronald McDonald house and drop things off. I was speechless and amazed. I couldn’t believe it.”
Among the groups that shared Caleb’s story was the Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation High School series, and their post on Facebook was shared 155 times. Social media manager Chris Tate also shared the post to several larger groups that received engagement.
“I just happened to see a post about it on Facebook and being fishermen, we have plenty of hats and a lot of them just sit there. For $6 in shipping you could send those hats and make his day and put a smile on his face,” Tate said. “I just created a post informing everyone and asking them to send hats and posted to several large groups that I figured people might respond to. From there, I know the Louisiana Nation High School got involved with it and Tennessee High School also got involved and sent hats.”
Tate added that once the word got out, all of the teams in the Alabama Nation program got involved and sent care packages to Caleb.
“I’m partial because I live here, but the people in Alabama have a kind heart,” he said. “Pretty much all of the teams got involved and sent something. There were a lot of responses like, ‘Does he like this team?’ because a lot of people had football hats. I just let people know that if they sent a hat, he would be happy. Let him know you are thinking about him.”
Darcie first noticed something was wrong in September 2020 when Caleb was growing at an extraordinary rate and was developing acne and skin blemishes as an 8-year-old. A bone age report revealed his bones had developed to that of a 12-year-old and while doctors originally believed it could be an easily treatable issue, subsequent tests revealed Caleb’s condition was far more serious and his rapid growth could be caused by a tumor.
After months of tests, scans and X-Rays, doctors finally located the tumor in the center of Caleb’s brain. Wanting the best option for a successful treatment, Caleb and his mother traveled to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis and a biopsy was done in March 2021. Doctors also discovered through another biopsy that a tumor they believed was benign could actually be the root cause of the cancer.
“It was a lot. Him going through the two surgeries three weeks apart,” Evans said. “We were in the ICU in Memphis for a long time. Secondary to all of this, he is hypothyroid, and he had diabetes and symphysis. After the surgeries, it was really difficult as far as recovery and trying to get that stuff regulated.”
The next month, Caleb began extensive radiation treatment on his brain and on his spine. He underwent 26 treatments at St. Jude in April and May. While he kept a largely positive attitude throughout his time at St. Jude, there were difficult moments for him. Evans said he struggled the most with the multiple spinal taps he had to endure.
On top of that, Caleb was away from friends and family for long stretches and the COVID-19 pandemic prevented any kind of bonding that could have happened normally at the Ronald McDonald House. Evans said they wanted to share the hats with the other patients as well, but were unable to because of the virus protocols.
“It got a little long for him, but we built a ton of Legos and when the hats and boxes started coming in, that took his mind off of everything and he had a whole other focus,” she said.
In his second follow-up visit in October 2021 and third follow-up visit in January of this year, doctors were pleased with the progress Caleb had made, but the type of cancer he has is extremely rare and he will have monthly and yearly checks to make sure they catch a recurrence early.
“It makes up less than 5% of brain tumors children have and for it to be in a metastatic form, that’s less than 1% of those 5%. They just don’t see it,” Evans said. “If it does reoccur, it isn’t good. That effort if it does come back will be potentially a lot better if they find it at one cell as opposed to more. The first radiation treatment was the chance for a cure. If we have a relapse, we won’t have a cure. These rechecks are really stressful, because it has to stay away.”
The progression has been positive so far, however, and Caleb has eased his way back into his normal activities. While he hasn’t had much time to go fishing just yet, he is determined to take Evans fishing for the first time and did take a trip to Kentucky for a week. Once he is back to full strength and feeling like his normal self, his ultimate goal is to go deep sea fishing.
“We had a lot of people offer to take him fishing and do those sorts of things and at the time, he didn’t feel good,” Evans said. “Once we get to feeling better and get through this first year, we can go do that. He would like to. He really wants to go deep sea fishing, and he has been watching videos and would like to do that.
“Make-A-Wish reached out to him at St. Jude and that was one of the things he was considering doing. I want him to be feeling the best and actually want him to be able to enjoy something.”