MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Every day Memphis police fight crime, but on Friday they gave an 8-year-old St. Jude patient motivation for his own fight.
Zachery Wyman was a patient at St. Jude and a Ronald McDonald House resident when he was four years old; about two months ago he relapsed and was sent back to the house. Now, he lives to read letters from friends, family and complete strangers. Police Departments across the nation are helping to make sure Zach has something to look forward to.
You can hardly see his bed under the spread of letters and postcards. Zach suffers from acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He spends every day in and out of treatment, but every night reading letters, escaping his reality. Zach says, "It kind of makes me feel special."
His mother, Anita Wyman, says the letters "give him something to look forward to when he doesn't have anything. He shut down on everything else it seems, that's the only thing that's kept him going."
Family, friends and Middleton, TN police officers Gus Salto and Richie Webb, started a Facebook fan page for the young cancer patient. They sent the link to law enforcement across the nation, asking for letters for Zach.
Richie Webb says, "We just keep re-posting it and sending it to whoever we can find to send it to." The letters started pouring in.
Anita Wyman says every time her son opens a letter he says, "'Where is this from? Where's that from? Who's that from?' It's good, it keeps his spirits going."
Chicago Police heard about Zach from Facebook, they called Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong and asked him to deliver a package. MPD officers put together their own box for Zach and the other kids at the Ronald McDonald House. Then there was a special challenge from the Police Director, "This is my own coin," Armstrong handed Zach a challenge coin, "I don't give this to everybody. I'm giving this to you. It's my challenge to you to hang in there and get better."
It's the little things that keep Zach fighting and the escape that keeps him smiling. His mother was brought to tears seeing how happy her son is, "Everybody cares so much," Wyman said, "and I thank everybody for caring and helping him."
To send Zach Wyman or any of the kids at The Ronald McDonald House letters, send them to:
535 Alabama Ave.
Memphis, TN 38105
