Aid Delaney's Journey to Remission

In May our 17-year-old niece Delaney received the diagnosis of a rare, incurable autoimmune disease called Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA) after struggling for over a month with coughing up blood, fatigue, and fevers. This diagnosis has brought about significant challenges, both emotionally and physically for Delaney, as well as financially for my brother and sister-in-law as they adjust to the new "normal" that this diagnosis entails.

Until this sudden onset of GPA, Delaney was your healthy, vibrant, typical high school girl; anticipating wrapping up a successful Varsity Lacrosse season and the end of her Junior year. Delaney was looking forward to a break over the summer with family and friends, and excitedly anticipating her upcoming Senior year of high school. As many of you reading this can understand, it's incredible how quickly life can change.

Many challenges have marked the last 3 months for Delaney and her family. As this autoimmune disease has progressed, it has resulted in her, at times, being unable to walk, not only due to the extreme fatigue and exhaustion caused by the way this condition significantly has impacted her lungs, but also due to the physical pain. Many of the medications she is currently required to take cause severe pain in her calves, making walking impossible at times. She is now receiving weekly infusions at Mott Children's Hospital, requiring her mom, Rebecca, to take regular time off of work to take her to Ann Arbor. Additionally, the treatment Delaney needs over the next 6 months (while they work to get her into remission) is incredibly expensive and not well covered by their health insurance. This has placed a considerable hardship on John and Becky as they work to provide for their family of 5 while prioritizing getting Delaney the treatments, therapies, and regular scans necessary.

Any donation to help Delaney and her family during this time is tremendously appreciated and is greatly needed to help offset the financial burden they are currently facing.