By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
STACYVILLE — Maintaining a normal life is not always easy for youngsters diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses.
Bradlee Cullins, 11, of Stacyville is the exception to this rule as the spirited youngster has overcome the odds. Bradlee turns 12 on Aug. 21 and will be entering the sixth grade.
“Bradlee was diagnosed with ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia), when he was 5-years-old,” said his mom, Billie Joe Cullins. “He was in pre-K when we first found out something was wrong. He would come to me each day saying ‘Mom, I don’t feel good.’”
Contributed photo
HERO — Bradlee Cullins, 11, of Stacyville was selected as the Cubby “Hero of the Month.
Billie Joe said she went through all the normal checklists a parent would do, checking for signs of a cold or flu.
“I called his teacher and asked if someone was picking on him at school to make him not want to go,” she said. “I even went in and watched him in the classroom.”
It wasn’t until a visit to Billie Joe’s mother’s house that the family noticed his lymph nodes protruding.
“That Monday, I took him to the emergency room in Millinocket,” she said. “They didn’t really tell us anything, but said we needed to go to Bangor. So, more tests were done there and that was when we heard the word cancer for the first time.”
Childhood ALL is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. It is the most common form of childhood cancer and usually gets worse quickly, if not treated, according to the National Cancer Institute’s website.
Bradlee spent 26 days in the Bangor hospital undergoing tests and treatment. For the first year, he was given chemotherapy, and his prognosis was good, as the cancer appeared to be in remission. Doctor visits were scheduled every month to make sure his blood levels remained healthy.
“Now we only have to go every six months,” Billie Joe said. “But we hold our breath every time we go.”
Through all the treatments, Billie Joe said her son never complained.
Bradlee joined the Cub Scouts and has since moved on to Boy Scouts, earning all of the necessary badges.
Cullins was selected as the June “Hero of the Month” by the Cubby Fund, a non-profit group located in Presque Isle. Funding for the awards originates from The Cubby, a for-profit thrift store with locations in Caribou and Presque Isle.
“Through the ‘Hero Program,’ the Cubby Fund recognizes children with a chronic or life threatening illness throughout Aroostook County with a $100 check,” said Cindy Johnson, CEO of The Cubby. “The Cubby fund also provides additional financial assistance to children with a life-threatening illness by covering fees related to medical appointments, travel, lodging, physician fees and adaptive equipment. We are pleased to recognize Bradlee as our hero for the month of June and commend him for his courage and bravery in the face of adversity.”
Bradlee has three siblings, Ashlie, 14; Jazmine, 13; and Owen, 5.
“Any child with a chronic or life-threatening illness is eligible for the Hero program,” Johnson said. “If you know of a child struggling with a physical illness, we encourage you to contact us.”
To recommend a hero, contact Johnson at 768-6200.
