Charlotte Isabel "Charley" Bauer

Charlotte “Charley” Isabel Bauer was born on September 18, 2003 to Alyssa and Jeremy Bauer of Sylvania, Ohio. In 2006, she was joined by her brother, Jack. Our little family of four was perfectly complete. Charley was born happy. She loved deeply. She passed away on Sunday, February 16 at age 21 with bravery and grace following a nine-month battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. 

How can we possibly capture Charley’s essence in just a few paragraphs? She rescued the worms from the driveway after a spring rain. She tenderly held butterflies with broken wings. She intentionally befriended peers with special needs or those who felt excluded. She rooted for the underdog. Charley had an extremely close-knit group of friends, from elementary, middle school, and high school friends to camp friends, equestrian friends, Friendship Circle friends, Delta Omega Kappa (DOK) sorority sisters, College of Nursing friends and faculty, and, most recently, friends of all ages from the Oncology floor of Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

Young Charley could usually be found digging for fossils, playing with Calico Critters, chasing the neighborhood ice cream truck, setting up her dollhouse ever-so-precisely, reading stories to her brother, playing with our family pets, riding horses, running barefoot in the yard, and fostering animals in need of love (especially those injured or failing to thrive). She attended Highland Elementary, Stranahan Elementary, Timberstone Junior High, and Southview High School. Fun fact: the entire Bauer family was together at Stranahan Elementary where her father, Jeremy Bauer, was the school principal and her mother, Alyssa Bauer, was a kindergarten teacher. Charley’s younger brother, Jack, followed in Charley’s footsteps two grades behind. Stranahan Elementary was, for many years, our home away from home. Some may wonder if it was hard having all four of us under the same roof of an elementary school. Not a chance! It was a gift, and those years are cherished. 

As she grew, these are the things Charley loved: attending sleepaway camp at Storer Camps and Camp Tamakwa, participating in Girls on the Run, student government, orchestra, fishing, varsity cheerleading (Charley was a flyer), Dance for a Chance, riding and showing horses, playing pickleball, driving the golf cart (but not actually golfing), becoming a camp counselor at Walden, volunteering for Friendship Circle, attending DOK sorority events, joining her boyfriend, Jack, for his AEPi fraternity dances and hayrides, finding gluten free foods that didn’t taste gluten free, family trips to warm beaches, petting every single animal she could including feral raccoons, babysitting the most precious children, and most of all, spending time laughing and loving with friends and family.

This is the part where people tend to say how someone “could light up a room”. Truthfully, Charley preferred to walk into rooms quietly and was a keen observer. She didn’t love small talk, nor did she go out of her way to impress people with fancy clothes or the latest makeup trends. Her gift was her natural beauty and her way of making others feel calm, heard, and important. Charley put others first, always showing genuine interest and compassion. When people speak of Charley, they recall her easy smile, her laughter, and her witty sense of humor.

As laid back and hilarious as Charley was, she set huge goals and tackled them with determination, one after the other. She graduated from Sylvania Southview High School Summa Cum Laude in 2022, and was accepted into The Ohio State University College of Nursing. She absolutely loved her nursing courses and her clinical instructors. While her nursing friends were encouraged to practice skills on artificial skin, mannequins, or dolls, Charley would confidently come home from OSU and have the whole family in line so she could practice drawing our blood or analyzing our vitals. And she was exceptional at it! Nursing was her passion and she was halfway there. This would have been her third year in the BSN program in the College of Nursing. Although she had her heart set on NICU care, she also began to feel a pull toward pediatric oncology, wanting to help children and families navigate the trials and tribulations of cancer. What a tremendous impact she would have made…and what a tremendous impact she already has made. 

When Charley was diagnosed with AML last May, she reluctantly put nursing school on hold to focus on her cancer treatment, first at The James, then at Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) in Columbus. NCH became her second home, where she spent hundreds of days and nights on Floor 12, the hematology/oncology/BMT floor. Charley was particularly dedicated to inspiring hope and positivity in younger oncology patients. She would order projects online and invite the little ones to join her for craft activities. As much as she loved the youngest patients, she also cared deeply about the young adults on Floor 12. She was happy to organize small gatherings in the social room and never showed up empty-handed, bringing beads, watercolors, or games. Charley aspired to make her doctors, nurses, therapists, and PCAs feel important, too, by loading up their badge reels with tokens of love such as “positive potato” keychains, mini crocheted hearts for Valentine’s Day, and beaded crafts. Some staff were lucky enough to have Charley crochet a granny square in their favorite colors which she gathered and sewed into a blanket. When doctors and nurses visited her room, they enjoyed finding their special squares on the blanket. 

One of Charley’s greatest joys at NCH Columbus is the “Butterfly Paws” therapy dog program. Several months ago, Charley was encouraged to make a wish that would be granted by the Special Wish Foundation in conjunction with Windmere Kennels. Her wish? A Golden Retriever to be trained as her own personal therapy dog to one day serve the Butterfly Paws program at NCH. Charley was over the moon on the three occasions she was able to meet her puppy, “Birdie,” in person. Throughout Charley’s ongoing treatment, Birdie has been professionally trained and was planning to return to Charley upon her discharge. Although Charley will not experience the joy of being Birdie’s handler, our family is determined to make the drive to NCH Columbus as often as possible so Birdie can visit with the patients he was meant to serve as a Butterfly Paws ambassador. He will always be Charley’s best good boy. 

Charley’s care team at NCH has been second to none. Nurses came in at midnight on her 21st birthday to celebrate with her, complete with mock jello shots, balloons, and songs. She had a massage therapist who knew how to soothe her joints and muscles when she was sore. Her AIM (Advanced Illness Management) Team, in tandem with psychiatry and psychology staff, took the time to carefully balance Charley’s needs. On Mondays, you could bet that her physical and occupational therapists were helping Charley bake her famous Rice Krispies Treats with sprinkles. The nurses could hardly wait for them to cool before taking one to go. Child life therapists, social workers, recreational therapists, art therapists… the resources for Charley and our family were endless. 

We would like to recognize the team of NCH nurses, doctors, and nurse practitioners who worked day and night to save Charley. In particular, her primary oncology/BMT doctors. Dr. G., small but mighty, honest and kind, brilliant at her craft, was able to bring Charley through several rounds of chemotherapy before handing her off to Dr. Maggie Lamb. Dr. Maggie was equal parts friend and doctor to Charley. They exchanged handmade friendship bracelets embellished with their initials, C & M. One afternoon, Charley demanded that Dr. Maggie dance to the song “We’re All in this Together” while Charley watched from her hospital bed. And, of course, Dr. Maggie obliged. They planned to wear matching OSU sweatshirts on game days, and Dr. Maggie stood by Charley’s side to cheer on her dad and boyfriend in the Nationwide Children’s Half Marathon last fall. Charley’s therapy dog, Birdie, was named after someone very special to Dr. Maggie. Charley also had an undeniable connection with Dr. Rolla who read a speech on behalf of Charley at BuckeyeThon earlier this month and shared her advice on concoctions to help Charley regrow her hair. And we cannot forget the endearing bossiness that filled the room when Charley’s Infectious Disease doctor walked through the door. Dr. Song was protective of Charley and reminded her to keep a safe distance from rivers, lakes, dirt, plants, trees, barns, campfires, puppies, farm animals, flowers, and moldy cheese. With the exception of moldy cheese, she knew quite well Charley could never stay away from the rest of this list. These women are fierce doctors who will stop at nothing to do what is best for their patients and families. The list does not end here, as the Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplant team at NCH Columbus is as extensive as it is exceptional. 

The hardest part: those who Charley leaves behind. You are all incredibly important to her and you know who you are. The love of her life, Jack Burke. Charley’s “Fantastic Five”. Her first cousins, Max, Reed, George, Cole, and Harry. Auntie Ilana, Uncle “Pinky-Promise Uncs” Eric, and Aunt Missy. Her beloved “Mimi and Poppi” and her “Nammer and Papa”. Mimi was her shopping buddy who introduced Charley to the world of Fancy Nancy, fairy houses, and made the best gluten free star noodles. Poppi was Charley’s sidekick and shared their love for the Ohio State Buckeyes. They preferred to get decked out and attend games in person, but would also text or Facetime when they couldn’t be together to cheer on the Buckeyes in person. Charley loved her Poppi’s boat rides on the quarry and jumping off the platform into the cool water. Nammer introduced Charley to the violin and they enjoyed playing side by side. She loved to hold Charley’s hand, stroke her hair, and remind her that her own mother, Charlotte, was Charley’s namesake. Papa was the master of gluten free baking. Charley would often take a bite of a cookie and, with her mouth half full, would ask “are you sure this is gluten free?” Charley has fond memories of Papa picking her up and dancing around the house with her when she was small. What a lucky girl Charley was to have four adoring grandparents to take her on island cruises or trips to Akumal, Sayulita, and Aruba. Family vacations with Charley were always the best because she thrived on adventure. But being right here at home was just as wonderful.

More than anything, Charley would have wanted all the success in the world for her brother, Jack. When people asked about Jack, she would proudly say that he is one of the most talented, creative, spontaneous people you will ever know. She was in awe of his self-taught, play-by-ear piano skills, his physical strength, his back flips, and his artistic skills. She admired that he is a free-spirit who speaks his mind. She knew that Jack looked up to her immensely. Throughout this journey, she reminded us repeatedly to guide him, protect him, and uplift him with our support. Rest assured Charley, your brother is in loving hands and we will always be a family of four. 

You may wonder if Charley was in pain. Yes and no. Cancer is tough, physically and emotionally. But neither pain, grief, nor sorrow defined Charley’s last nine months. Her perspective was one of sheer hope. She manifested optimism every day and never believed she would lose this battle. Recently, Charley was asked to write a speech for OSU BuckeyeThon and she chose to put the relentless nature of cancer on full display. She would want you all to know that cancer does not play by the rules. In fact, Charley died in remission. She was declared cancer-free in December and proudly “rang the bell” in the Magic Forest lobby at NCH. It was a beautiful testimony to her winning spirit. However, we knew that her battle was not over. Cancer leaves chaos in its wake, and Charley was tested time and time again. After overcoming one medical challenge after another, her physical body could no longer keep up with her will to live. Even so, Charley spent Valentine’s Day making cards, eating ice cream, and resting her head on the shoulder of her boyfriend, Jack Burke. She was so happy. 

Charley had a few precious moments to share words of love and reassurance. And once she was asleep, we never left her side, even after her heart stopped beating. Charley slipped away calmly, quietly, and with dignity. The last words we heard her say were “it will be okay” and “I can do hard things.” 

A memorial service will be held at noon on Sunday, February 23rd at Temple Shomer Emunim in Sylvania, Ohio. If you plan to attend, please be casual. Charley would not want everyone wearing uncomfy black suits and dresses, or walking in shoes that make your feet hurt. If you are an Ohio State fan, we encourage you to wear your scarlet and gray, put a string of buckeyes around your neck, and sit tall and proud. U of M fans, you are also invited and we will leave it to you to make the right choice of attire. If you want to wear what Charley would choose, go with a matching hoodie set or leggings/jeans and a comfy sweatshirt. Orange is an option, too, for Leukemia Awareness. But Charley always felt that not everyone could pull off wearing the color orange. Come as you are, dressed in whatever makes you happy.

Please, in honor of Charley, be kind to the underdogs, seek out adventure, pet all the animals, rescue the worms on a rainy day, and never stop saying Charley’s name with a smile. 

Donate platelets. Donate blood. And remember, YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the following:

Jack Bauer’s fundraising efforts in honor of his sister for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Student Visionaries of the Year Campaign. You can find Jack’s fundraising page using the following link: https://events.lls.org/tol/svoynwoh25/jbauer. 

Temple Shomer Emunim “Charlotte Bauer Endowment Fund” 
https://www.templese.com/contribution

Stranahan Elementary’s Inclusive and Accessible Community Playground https://sites.google.com/view/stranahan-pta-inclusive-play/donations 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Charlotte Isabel "Charley" Bauer, please visit our floral store.