The McCoy family have nothing but love for Dance Marathon.
By Kayli Reese
Many families have been supported through tough times by the love from Dance Marathon at the University of Iowa, and the McCoy family of Cedar Rapids are no exception.
Charlie McCoy is 7, and her family have been involved in Dance Marathon since 2012, Charlie’s mother, Rhonda McCoy, said. Throughout the family’s journey in Charlie’s treatment, she said, Dance Marathon dancers and family representatives have been an important source of support.
McCoy and her husband adopted three girls when their family resided in Alabama. Charlie, the youngest of the daughters, was 18 months old when she was diagnosed with a rare white blood cell disease, McCoy said. After a year of treatment, the family moved to Cedar Rapids and had Charlie’s care transferred to University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.
The family were introduced to Dance Marathon shortly after Charlie was admitted to the hospital, McCoy said.
“Within two or three days, the family was overwhelmed with support,” she said.
Dance Marathon has helped the family out in a multitude of ways, McCoy said. In addition to emotional support, she said Dance Marathon also has paid co-payments and given restaurant vouchers to help out throughout Charlie’s journey. Once, she said, Dance Marathon even covered a $1,700 bill while her insurance transferred over.
The family attended their first Big Event in 2013, she said. Charlie was 3 years old at the time, and she and her sisters were enamored with the festivities; McCoy said every dancer made all three girls feel like the only girls in the room.
“Dance Marathon helps kids forget what’s going on,” she said.
Rachel Zeitlin, the first Dance Marathon family representative for the McCoys, met the family in the fall of 2012 and joined them in their first Big Event. She said she met Charlie at one of their clinical appointments while she was volunteering at the hospital.
Throughout her time with the family, Zeitlin said, she did numerous activities with the McCoy girls, such as trick-or-treating and other family events in addition to going along to Charlie’s inpatient appointments.
“It helped to have somewhere there who’s not so much a stranger,” she said. “It’s good to have someone who knows the situation.”
Zeitlin said she was extremely impressed by Charlie’s attitude during treatment. She said Charlie is a bright star of the show, and one wouldn’t even guess she was going through such a hard time. She said seeing Charlie and other kids in Dance Marathon helped her decide to become a pediatric nurse.
Natalie Paul, another McCoy family representative, said the family was very open to her right away when she became their representative two years ago. As time has gone on, she said, she has become closer and closer with Charlie and the McCoys.
The experience of being a dancer and family representative, Paul said, has become a huge part of who she is.
“It gives me hope and happiness,” she said. “It gives me a reason to live.”
Charlie has been off treatment for two years now, McCoy said, and now goes to the hospital for periodic appointments. McCoy said her daughter always did so well at the hospital, never flinching or crying, always saying thank you to nurses and doctors.
Currently, McCoy said, Charlie participates in gymnastics and track, excelling at both and never letting anything stop her or slow her down. She said Charlie has always been very brave throughout her journey.
“[Charlie] has a motto she says every time she goes in for an appointment,” McCoy said. “ ‘I am brave, I am strong, and I am never alone.’ ”
