‘#Collins_Fight’

Budd Lake parish rallies to support seventh-grader diagnosed with leukemia

COLLIN'S FIGHT  Collin Berg with a therapy dog named Ida that visited him in the hospital. Collin posted this photo on his Instagram account with the caption: “Oct. 7, 2015 one of the hardest days of my life but I’m going to be OK. Everything’s going to be fine and I’m going be back to my old self.”

BUDD LAKE  At St. Jude Parish here, parents, teachers and friends saw #Collins_Fight trending on their social media news feed. The hashtag was started by Collin’s parents Theresa and Brian Berg, parishioners at St. Jude’s, asking for support for their son, a seventh-grader at Mount Olive Middle School, who was recently diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), the most common form of childhood leukemia.

“It went viral among the community,” said Darlene Wade, religious education coordinator at the Budd Lake parish. “Theresa did it to raise Collin’s spirits and everyone rallied behind it.”

“We are so blessed and humbled by the outpouring of support of the community. This is a fight, we can’t fight alone,” Theresa Berg said. “Our faith is really strong and we certainly had to rely on our faith many times in the past. We lean on the people around us.”

Because of Collin’s battle with leukemia, the religious education program recently wore orange shirts to support him and his family, which includes his younger brother, Logan and older sister, Marina.

Collin’s mother said, “Sadly, many children are diagnosed with leukemia every year. Collin is among them. I think what made so many people compelled to rally around him is his spirit, determination and will. Not every knows the story of how Collin entered the world but they see the challenges he faces everyday and how he has overcome so much in his life already.”

Berg said even before Collin was born, he suffered a stroke in utero and the location of the stroke was near the part of the brain that produces and controls the spinal fluid in his body. As a result of the stroke and its location, Collin has a condition called hydrocephalus. A few hours after Collin was born, things started to go very wrong. He had a grim prognosis and was given a very slim chance of making it through the night.

“I had just delivered Collin via c-section and against the nurses’ advisement I was brought to Collin’s bedside and we had him baptized that night. Collin made it through the night and continued to fight with an incredible will for the next eight weeks in the NICU at the hospital until we were finally discharged. It was really unclear what was ahead for Collin — every developmental milestone was delayed but eventually achieved due to his incredible determination. Collin began walking at 2-1/2 and talking shortly after,” said Berg.

The stroke also caused a right side hemiparetic cerebral palsy (right sided weakness). With the help of doctors and therapists, support and his own determination, Collin does many things most children do. He rock climbs, plays baseball, does karate and plays the French horn.

With Collin overcoming so much already, it was difficult for Collin and the family to hear about his diagnosis on Oct. 7. “We thought, why Collin? What else? The community’s outpouring of support, love and passion for Collin’s fight has inspired us to stop asking ‘why Collin’ and instead focus on the fight and beating Leukemia,” said Berg.

For the next three years, Collin will be treated for his illness and the parish and community plan to be there for him. This also includes the Sisters of Christian Charity in Mendham where prayers from Collin’s great aunt (his father’s aunt), Sister of Christian Charity Virginia Ann Barry, is a member of the order.

Father Antonio Gaviria, pastor of St. Jude’s, said, “The family are people of good faith. Even though, they are living this tough situation, they are trusting in God and they are putting everything in God’s hands.”

Wade said, “This is a special family, who are always there for other people and the town is really embracing his fight. Collin always has a smile on his face.”

Right now the parish and local community are planning ways they can help the family in addition to prayers. They hope to have fund-raisers in the future for the medical costs and possibly help the family with a meals program since the family will be busy bringing Collin to his medical treatments.

“Each week, the children are also sending him cards so Collin is reminded that he is loved and supported,” said Wade.

With Collin’s fight, Father Gaviria also hopes parishes around the diocese pray for the middle schooler and other children that may have cancer in the Diocese. “It’s important we build a prayer chain because prayers really do work,” said Father Gaviria.

To the Berg family, Father Gaviria said, “May God strengthen them and continue to give the courage to navigate this journey. I hope everyone comes together to show our mercy as we prepare to celebrate the Year of Mercy as a Church. It’s a good sign when all get together for a family that needs prayers right now.”