Helping Alani & Jessica Fund!
Donation protected
I have known Jessica for 13 years now, and Melanie has known her for even longer, as they both grew up together and went to Holy Rosary. We are both starting this go fundme campaign to help Jessica, at a time when she needs it the most. If you know anything about Jessica, you know she is pretty self-sufficient and independent. She never wants to bother people with her problems, and is reluctant to ask for help.
Jessica and her daughter Alani need our help more than ever right now. Alani, 2, has been officially diagnosed with a terminal illness. So rare, that only a select few have ever even been formally diagnosed with it. Moreover, Alani's condition has progressed much more rapidly than expected. Within the last week, her abilities to crawl, sit up on her own, and function on what is considered "normal" for her have significantly dissipated.
Alani usually has routine appointments and times scheduled for her treatments, at LeBonheur Children's Hospital. Alani started receiving her treatments back in December, which at the time seemed to make her stronger for the few weeks following her visits. As the treatments have gone on, they have begun working less and less, to the point where the doctors told Jessica last week, that it would be probably be her last treatment. On Thursday of last week, Alani was discharged from the hospital. She usually sleeps a day or so after being in the hospital, but Jessica noticed she was not doing as well in her physical therapy sessions and was letting her nurse hold her and cuddle her (something Alani has only let Jessica do up until now). Jessica can tell Alani is over it, and just does not have the strength to fight it anymore.
On Sunday, Alani was readmitted to LeBonheur (their second home) and this is where she has been since. On Monday, February 15, Jessica received probably the hardest news she will ever have to swallow, as a parent. With the progressive nature of Alan's illness and the fast pace at which she is declining, her approximate window of time is 6 months. While we are all praying, that this is not the case, and Alani beats these odds, we have to prepare for what the doctors are predicting.
On Tuesday, February 16, Alani had an MRI done which confirmed what the doctors and Jessica have feared. Alani has something that is extremely rare called Metachromatic Leukodystrophy. The myelin sheets have been stripped from the nerves in her brain. Her body is shutting down at an aggressive pace. They are going to make her as comfortable as possible from here on out.
It is hard enough to grasp that such a painful and terminal thing is happening to a child, but when that child is your best friend's daughter it makes the pain that much unbearable. I do not think any of us could fathom the hurt, confusion, and questions Jessica has as to why Alani, but she is such a strong and courageous person, she is remaining positive despite these devastating circumstances.
As mentioned above, Jessica is a pretty prideful person and would never want to ask for help from others. However, JESSICA NEEDS OUR HELP NOW! Financially, emotionally, and spiritually- we all need to do what we can do be there for her. The gofundme amount I chose is based off of the medical bills that have starting coming in (which we all know like to appear months after the actual visits), Jessica and Alan’s regular bills (Jessica quit her job last week, so she could be with Alani 24/7), and the possibility of funeral costs (this is the hardest thing to type on here-but this is the last thing Jessica needs to worry about if and when the time comes!).
If you cannot give monetarily, but have services you could possibly donate (professional photo sessions – for a mommy and me date), gift certificates, or anything you might think would be a fun way for Alani and Jessica to spend time together or make some memories together- those things would be much appreciated as well.
From Jessica: “I want my daughter’s story to make a difference to someone’s life in the future. I want to help find a cure. I don’t want any mother to have to watch their baby suffer”.
Let’s help make this come true for her by spreading Alani’s story-whether you can donate or not. Any money that is left over from this initiative will go towards helping Jessica begin her journey on finding out more about this rare illness and what she can do to help other families.
Whether you know Jessica personally, have heard about her and Alani through others, or just happen to stumble upon this campaign- Thank you! Thank you for taking the time out of your day to read about Alani and Jessica. Hopefully, you can see how special these two are to us and to all those who have the chance to meet them.
Please continue to pray and send good vibes their way.
We want Jessica to spend as much time with Alani as she can during this time. As always, send prayers and good vibes to Jessica and let her know you are thinking about her. If you have any specific questions about what she or Alani needs, please feel free to contact Melanie Lackie or myself. Our contact information is below.
Melanie Lackie
[email redacted]
Shannon Webb
[email redacted]
Jessica and her daughter Alani need our help more than ever right now. Alani, 2, has been officially diagnosed with a terminal illness. So rare, that only a select few have ever even been formally diagnosed with it. Moreover, Alani's condition has progressed much more rapidly than expected. Within the last week, her abilities to crawl, sit up on her own, and function on what is considered "normal" for her have significantly dissipated.
Alani usually has routine appointments and times scheduled for her treatments, at LeBonheur Children's Hospital. Alani started receiving her treatments back in December, which at the time seemed to make her stronger for the few weeks following her visits. As the treatments have gone on, they have begun working less and less, to the point where the doctors told Jessica last week, that it would be probably be her last treatment. On Thursday of last week, Alani was discharged from the hospital. She usually sleeps a day or so after being in the hospital, but Jessica noticed she was not doing as well in her physical therapy sessions and was letting her nurse hold her and cuddle her (something Alani has only let Jessica do up until now). Jessica can tell Alani is over it, and just does not have the strength to fight it anymore.
On Sunday, Alani was readmitted to LeBonheur (their second home) and this is where she has been since. On Monday, February 15, Jessica received probably the hardest news she will ever have to swallow, as a parent. With the progressive nature of Alan's illness and the fast pace at which she is declining, her approximate window of time is 6 months. While we are all praying, that this is not the case, and Alani beats these odds, we have to prepare for what the doctors are predicting.
On Tuesday, February 16, Alani had an MRI done which confirmed what the doctors and Jessica have feared. Alani has something that is extremely rare called Metachromatic Leukodystrophy. The myelin sheets have been stripped from the nerves in her brain. Her body is shutting down at an aggressive pace. They are going to make her as comfortable as possible from here on out.
It is hard enough to grasp that such a painful and terminal thing is happening to a child, but when that child is your best friend's daughter it makes the pain that much unbearable. I do not think any of us could fathom the hurt, confusion, and questions Jessica has as to why Alani, but she is such a strong and courageous person, she is remaining positive despite these devastating circumstances.
As mentioned above, Jessica is a pretty prideful person and would never want to ask for help from others. However, JESSICA NEEDS OUR HELP NOW! Financially, emotionally, and spiritually- we all need to do what we can do be there for her. The gofundme amount I chose is based off of the medical bills that have starting coming in (which we all know like to appear months after the actual visits), Jessica and Alan’s regular bills (Jessica quit her job last week, so she could be with Alani 24/7), and the possibility of funeral costs (this is the hardest thing to type on here-but this is the last thing Jessica needs to worry about if and when the time comes!).
If you cannot give monetarily, but have services you could possibly donate (professional photo sessions – for a mommy and me date), gift certificates, or anything you might think would be a fun way for Alani and Jessica to spend time together or make some memories together- those things would be much appreciated as well.
From Jessica: “I want my daughter’s story to make a difference to someone’s life in the future. I want to help find a cure. I don’t want any mother to have to watch their baby suffer”.
Let’s help make this come true for her by spreading Alani’s story-whether you can donate or not. Any money that is left over from this initiative will go towards helping Jessica begin her journey on finding out more about this rare illness and what she can do to help other families.
Whether you know Jessica personally, have heard about her and Alani through others, or just happen to stumble upon this campaign- Thank you! Thank you for taking the time out of your day to read about Alani and Jessica. Hopefully, you can see how special these two are to us and to all those who have the chance to meet them.
Please continue to pray and send good vibes their way.
We want Jessica to spend as much time with Alani as she can during this time. As always, send prayers and good vibes to Jessica and let her know you are thinking about her. If you have any specific questions about what she or Alani needs, please feel free to contact Melanie Lackie or myself. Our contact information is below.
Melanie Lackie
[email redacted]
Shannon Webb
[email redacted]
Organizer and beneficiary
Shannon Webb
Organizer
Lenow, TN
Jessica Stocks
Beneficiary
