Help Aliyah Heal from Osteomyelitis

Our sweet Aliyah is currently hospitalized with osteomyelitis, a serious bone infection. She is stable and working hard every day to regain her strength and learn to use her left leg again.

Aliyah is incredibly determined — her biggest goal is to get healthy so she can return to school and back to the sport she loves most: volleyball.

Normally, I would never create a GoFundMe, but I’ve set aside my pride to ask for help and prayers. Your support will go toward hospital expenses, medical supplies, and loss of wages as Aliyah continues her recovery. Every gift makes a difference, and we are deeply grateful. Please don’t feel obligated — your prayers and encouragement mean just as much as any donation.

Aliyah will continue treatment with strong antibiotics for 6–8 weeks even after she is released. This will be a long journey, but thanks to the incredible love and support we’ve already received, we know she’s not walking it alone.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with Aliyah and our family. ❤️

Updates

9/4/25

Aliyah likely has fluid around her knee. She is getting an ultrasound and may need a procedure tomorrow to remove the fluid, which we hope will help her mobility. Please keep her in your prayers.

Later that night, ultrasound and labs came back abnormal, so she had an MRI. A procedure is now scheduled for tomorrow to clean out her joints and bones.

9/5/25

The MRI showed the infection spread to her muscles, joint, and tissue. Emergency surgery was done at 9 AM. Antibiotics hadn’t been enough, and the infection worsened.

The surgery went well. Doctors cleaned out her leg, as the infection had spread to her calf and thigh. Two drains were placed. Labs are being monitored closely to make sure antibiotics are finally working. Please continue to pray.

9/24/25

We are so proud of Aliyah! She started back at school on Monday, September 22. She’s moved from a walker to crutches (amazing progress!) and is still using a shower chair at home.

She began physical therapy yesterday — currently scheduled 2x per week for six weeks. At her very first session, she was able to bend her knee to a 60° angle. The surgeon’s goal is 90° soon, and ultimately 150° (sitting on her foot). Huge shoutout to her physical therapist, Chris Ellis, for pushing her through with humor and patience!

Aliyah also had lab work done yesterday to check her inflammation markers. She will stay on high-dose antibiotics until the end of the month, and she has a follow-up with infectious disease on September 30.

We are hopeful she’ll feel well enough to attend the homecoming football game this Thursday with her friends. Volleyball may still be a little way off, but her team is patiently waiting for her return to the court!

A HUGE thank you to:

The doctors at Children’s Hospital

The amazing staff at Trailhead PT

Her incredible friends, family, teachers, and administrators

My coworkers, who have been so kind and supportive.

Aliyah has been through so much, but each day she’s getting a little stronger. Slowly but surely, she’s on her way back to doing what she loves most.

Your love, prayers, and donations mean more than words can express. We are beyond grateful for this amazing community.