For Laree Wools, there’s nothing worse than watching her son, Marcus, struggle to breathe.
Marcus, 6, has cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that complicates breathing and digestion. Marcus was diagnosed at age 3; a newborn screening at the hospital missed the disorder. The diagnosis brought some relief, but also frustration. “Before he turned 3, we had probably taken him to the hospital 25 or 30 times,” said Wools.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cystic fibrosis affects around 35,000 people in the U.S.
Equipped with answers, Marcus began treatment at Warren Clinic, a part of the St. Francis Health System in Tulsa, Okla., where Laree and husband, Cody Wools, were living at the time. They now live in Humboldt. Cody works for Coffeyville Resources, an oil refinery; Laree manages her own cleaning business, Soap Opera Solutions. They’ve continued Marcus’ care in Tulsa, where they now know many of the doctors and nurses by name.
So on Halloween morning, when Laree noticed Marcus was having trouble breathing, it was a mother’s intuition that made her call the clinic and set up an afternoon appointment at the clinic. By the time they got there, Marcus’ throat had almost shut completely. She had pulled over twice to give him a breathing treatment with his inhaler.
He was later diagnosed with a respiratory trifecta: RSV, pneumonia, and the common cold. Marcus spent two days in the hospital’s ICU. Watching him fight for every breath is “the scariest thing I’ve ever faced in my life,” said Wools. “There’s nothing I can do physically for him.”
PARENTING is no picnic, even with the healthiest of children. Wools and her husband have a full house. The couple have adopted Laree’s younger brother, Envy, 13, while daughters Macie, 12, and Sophia, 10, serve as near-constant playmates. Marcus loves school — he’s enrolled in preschool at Humboldt — and enjoys video games and going to the park. “He likes cuddles and movies, too,” Mom says.
In spite of the challenges Marcus’ disorder presents, Wools says she has become a more resilient, and kinder, person.
“You can’t see cystic fibrosis,” notes Wools. “When you look at my son, you’ll think he’s a healthy kid. But he’s not. And there is a stigma when people can’t see the illness.
“It’s taught me to be more patient and kind, and made me not take anything for granted. If he wants to snuggle on the couch, I’m going to snuggle on the couch. I’m not going to do the dishes. I’m going to take in everything I can with him. And with my other children, too. It’s taught me to slow down, take it all in.”
So when the communities of Humboldt and Chanute rallied for Marcus after such a horrible Halloween, Wools understood something special was happening.
IT ALL started with a Facebook post. Headed back to Humboldt, Wools hoped some friends and neighbors would be able to drop off some extra Halloween candy. “Marcus was more upset about missing Halloween than he was about being sick,” she said.
Her mother, Olivia Rowan, who lives in Chanute, posted the message on Pay it Forward-Chanute, a Chanute-oriented Facebook page.
Suddenly, Laree’s phone started to explode. People started sending their addresses, asking what Marcus’ favorite candy was, wondering what else they could do to help. Rowan made a list, organizing a route between homes in Humboldt and Chanute.
And this past Sunday, five days after Halloween, Marcus and his siblings had the holiday he had missed. With Marcus dressed up as a Fortnite T-Rex, the kids “trick-or-treated for four hours. Four hours!” said Wools with a laugh, still amazed by the event. They received hugs, special gift bags, a huge bucket full of sweets just for Marcus. “I don’t know how we’re going to eat all of that candy.”
