James Bowsher reacts after learning that local businesses had paid $10,000 to purchase his family’s market rabbits at Saturday’s livestock sale at the Union County Fair. Bowsher’s 11-year-old sister, Megan, learned recently that she has Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and she was unable to show her rabbits, so her brother stepped in to exhibit her project for her. (Journal-Tribune photo by Chad Williamson)
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View the full video from the sale of Megan Bowsher’s rabbits here:
James Bowsher learned about a week before the livestock sale that he would be showing market rabbits at the 2021 Union County Junior Fair on Saturday on behalf of his 11-year-old sister Megan Bowsher, who was recently diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. That was the first time he ever exhibited livestock.
Businesses organized on Saturday to purchase Bowsher’s rabbits for $10,000.
“It brought me to tears seeing the support that Megan received, 44 businesses and families got together to buy her rabbits,” wrote Chris Bowsher in a Sunday journal entry on caringbridge.com. “Megan watched the sale on YouTube with the biggest smile on her face. She laid on the couch in disbelief. We have surely felt the support of our family, friends, and community as Megan is starting her battle.”
Schneider Plumbing and Heating, Integrated Ag Services, New York Life Insurance Company, Vandre Professional Properties, Farmers National Bank, Darby Creek Farm, Davidson Family Farm, Weeks Plumbing, Memorial Health, Honda Marysville, House of Spirits, Leon’s Garage, Richwood Bank, Lee Farms, Union County Sheriff Jamie Patton, Union Propane, Phelps Farms, Hogan Tire, Cook’s Custom Farm Services, Cook Insurance, Scotts Miracle-Gro Co., Jackson Auto, Dr. Kevin Weitzel Pediatric Dentistry, Nutrient, Vollrath Farms, Marysville Primary Care, State Representative Tracy Richardson, Chapman Ford, Goodwin Services, Parrott Implement Co., Conrad, Leibold, Woerner & Co., Adam Goodwin, The Strait & Lamp Group, Harley and Hal Jackson Auctioneers and individual families collaborated for the sale.
In an interview with the Journal-Tribune, James Bowsher thanked the buyers for their support.
According to a GoFundMe account organized to assist the family with Bowsher’s medical expenses, Bowsher is at stage 4 high risk. She is currently receiving chemotherapy treatment.
“While we were on our vacation at Atlantic Beach, NC we noticed Megan didn’t have her usual energy. She was getting tired easily and had to sit down often,” wrote her parents, Chris and Monica Bowsher, in a journal entry on July 23 on caringbridge.com. “A few days later, Thursday, she had a pain in her side. When this pain woke her up from sleeping we decided to head to a local ER. At the ER we were hit with the news that Megan was anemic and the X-ray of her right lung was abnormal. The doctor mentioned that she might have some type of cancer but further tests would need to be done to figure out what was going on in her little body. Early Friday morning Megan was transported 1 1/2 hours by ambulance to a Vidant Health, Maynard Children’s Hospital in Greenville, NC.”
Her family traveled to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus for further tests, where she was eventually diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
On July 28, infectious disease doctors believed Bowsher had an invasive form of aspergillosis in her lungs near the mass that was detected in her lymph node biopsy.
The next day, Bowsher had her last dose of chemotherapy for her first cycle. She is scheduled to have five cycles of chemotherapy.
Bowsher, who attends St. John’s Lutheran School in Marysville and is a member of the Sunshine 4-H club, will undergo a procedure on Tuesday to confirm the fungal infection.
Her parents wrote that on Wednesday she will have more blood tests, and on Friday she will return to the hospital for a check-up.
Next Thursday, the second cycle of chemo will start in the hospital.
As of Monday morning, Bowsher’s GoFundMe page has raised $13,450. Those interested in making a donation may visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/megan-bowsher.