'Built Ford tough'
MIDDLESEX TWP — A dozen big, tough first responders suited up and flipped on their lights and sirens Tuesday evening for the 4th birthday of a little boy who is battling cancer.
State Trooper Noah Sims, of Troop D in Butler, heard about Ford Bartle from a friend, so he looked up the boy's Facebook page to learn about his fight against neuroblastoma, which is a pediatric brain cancer.
Once he learned of the treatment the youngster has been through and continues to face, Sims decided to arrange a first responders birthday parade past Ford's home in Weatherburn Heights.
On Tuesday, Sims' cruiser led a line of 21 police and fire vehicles, plus the military vehicle used by the Beaver County Tactical Operations Team, past the family's home as their lights and sirens blasted.
Police cruisers from Middlesex, Adams and Cranberry townships, as well as Northern Regional Police in Allegheny County, and Callery and Mars rolled past a delighted Ford and his dad, Bobby Bartle, along with fire trucks and township vehicles from every fire department in southwestern Butler County.
About 40 friends and family gathered in the Bartle's driveway in their “Built Ford Tough” sweatshirts, which became the family's motto as Ford bravely faced two rounds of chemotherapy and radiation.A huge “Ford Tough” banner, balloons and a large yard sign wishing their son a happy birthday was set up by Bobby and Carly Bartle and their friends and family.Many of the police officers had gifts for a delighted Ford, who grinned as he clutched a police teddy bear given to him by Randy Davison of the Middlesex Township Police Department.Members of the Beaver County Tactical Team invited Ford's brothers and sisters, plus the many youngsters who came to celebrate Ford's birthday and watch the parade, into the military-style tactical vehicle after the parade.The team members explained the features of the vehicle and patiently answered the children's questions.“It's so great that everyone would want to do this for him,” Carly Bartle said of the parade and party guests assembled in her driveway. “We obviously feel that he's special, but it's awesome that everyone else feels that way too.”She said many friends and family joked when the couple chose the name Ford when their son was born, saying “Yeah, built Ford tough.”“Little did we know what that would mean,” Carly Bartle said.
Ford was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma in August 2019, when he was 2 years old.He underwent chemotherapy and radiation at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and doctors said in March 2020 that Ford had no evidence of the cancer.A few months ago, Carly said, Ford relapsed and a tumor was found in his skull.The youngster and his parents returned to New York City for another round of treatment, leaving their four other young children in the care of family and friends.Next week, the Bartles will once again travel to New York City for Ford's surgery to have a port inserted in his body for innovative treatment to attack the cancer through his cerebro-spinal fluid.Bobby Bartle said tests have shown that the tumor has decreased in size.“This (parade and party) is definitely a motivating factor and positive vibes to get us in a positive mindset as we get ready for the next round of treatment,” Bobby Bartle said. “Hopefully, there will be no more parades. I want him to be clean and everything back to normal.”Pat Croppa, of New Castle, is Carly's grandfather and Ford's great grandfather.“This is beautiful,” Croppa said of the parade and community support the Bartles receive in Weatherburn Heights. “I'm just so proud of my little great grandson. He's coming along pretty good so far, thank God.”Karen Hogue, of Rochester, Beaver County, is a family friend who takes care of the Bartle children during the days or weeks their parents spend in New York City during Ford's treatment.“I treat them like they are my own,” said Hogue as the Bartle children swarmed her. “I feel like they are.”She said the enthusiastic help provided to the Bartle family by their neighbors is unbelievable, and they also assist her when she is caring for the four children.“If I need anything when I'm here with these kids, all I have to do is yell out the back door,” she said.Sims smiled and chatted with Ford after the parade as several family members took pictures of the pair.He said he was glad to organize the parade for Ford's 4th birthday after learning what the family has been through in the past few years.“Anything to make him smile,” Sims said.<iframe width="100%" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wHDXmIP9ghU" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
