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Leukemia patient's family launches book drive at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital

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Published  January 8, 2025 3:53pm EST
What's Right with Tampa Bay
FOX 13 News

Tampa family turning tragedy into hope for sick children

FOX 13's Mark Wilson highlights a family that is turning their personal experience of their 5-year-old son's diagnosis with leukemia into a social media campaign to collect books for other young patients at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Tampa in What Right with Tampa Bay.

The Brief

    • The family of a 5-year-old leukemia patient launched a book drive at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Tampa.
    • Through a social media campaign, they are collecting books for other young patients.
    • They have received more than 500 books from donations from friends, family and even strangers.

TAMPA, Fla. - A local family is turning their personal experience into a heartfelt mission after their 5-year-old son, Luke Futch, was diagnosed with leukemia earlier this year. 

Through a social media campaign, they are collecting books for other young patients at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Tampa. So far, they've already received more than 500 books from donations from friends, family and even strangers.

The Futch family is collecting books for other hospital patients at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Tampa through a social media campaign.

"A book is not just a book. It's a bedtime story. It's a moment of distraction. It's a moment of peace and comfort," said Luke's mom, Elizabeth Futch. "It's the last thing that a child is thinking about before they go to sleep that night. And when you're not in your own bed and when you're not in your home and when you do have to spend weeks on end in the hospital, those little moments can bring so much joy and connection between families."

For the Futch's, it's more than just a book drive; it's a way to bring joy and hope to young patients and their families. Throughout their journey, they've been overwhelmed by the care and support they received at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital.

"Every single person that we've encountered here at St Joseph's Children's Hospital has just been incredible," said Elizabeth. "They are so good with Luke. They're so good with the kids, and you can tell that they really love what they do, and they really love taking care of their children."

The Futch family is collecting books for other hospital patients at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Tampa through a social media campaign.

The Futch family knows first-hand how challenging life can be for children in the hospital on the pediatric oncology floor.

"It completely turned our world upside down, and it changed our life and our, you know, our day-to-day life now kind of revolves around his treatment," said Elizabeth. "And his treatment plan will be about two and a half years."

Hospital staff said they saw the impact of the book drive first-hand.

"For our community, donors like Luke's family to provide this opportunity for our patients, it will just be really, really impactful for our kids along their healing journey as they're spending nights in our hospital," said Hannah Murray, Certified Child Life Specialist at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital.

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