By Diana Henry - bio | email | Twitter | Facebook | Blog
FITCHBURG (WKOW) -- It's a common occurrence. Your child gets sick. Most times it's just a virus that will go away with some tendering loving care and maybe some medication. But then you find out it's cancer.
You are in a tailspin. You don't know what to do. A Fitchburg family faced that a year and a half ago. Now they are trying to give back to an organization that gave and continues to give so much to them. It makes Lindsay and Caitlynn Gehl 'Someone You Should Know.'
7-year-old Caitlynn Gehl loves her stuffed animals and school.
"I get to play with all my friends, sister and get to color and do math and see my teachers," said Caitlynn.
But Caitlynn didn't get to go to kindergarten right away like she should have.
"On the weekend before she started kindergarten in September of 2008 she was having a hard time breathing and it had been a couple of weeks and we figured sinuses," said Lindsay.
It was much worse.
"In the beginning when you started to lose your hair what did you say to your friends?" Lindsay asked Caitlynn.
"That I had Leukemia," said Caitlynn.
Caitlynn has Leukemia, a blood disease.
"She's now on oral chemo every day and goes in on a monthly basis and has her IV chemo," said Lindsay.
Caitlynn's parents say a lot of people have been there for the family. That includes, from the first couple of days to even now a year and a half since diagnosis, the non-profit Capital Candlelighters has helped with information and money to help pay the bills and put gas in the car for the numerous trips to the hospital.
"It was a Godsend to us," said Lindsay. "I don't think we would be sitting here today if it wasn't for them.
Also a Godsend, Caitlynn has responded very well to her treatment.
"She's a very rare little girl and has some very strange things going on with her chromosomes," said Lindsay. "The prognosis still seems pretty good."
Now, the Gehl's want to return the favor by holding a fundraiser for Capital Candlelighters. It's called 'Baking Magic for Kids' and is a pie and cake bake-off this weekend at Hometown Days in Verona. You can help by entering the contest or buying a dessert.
Click here for more information on the bake-off.
Click here for more on Capital Candlelighters.
