Aaliyah's Journey

A couple of months ago, my niece Aaliyah started experiencing what she believed was a bad cold or strep throat. After weeks of feeling unwell and not seeing any improvement with the medication prescribed at a walk-in clinic, we decided to take her to the emergency room—unaware that this would be the beginning of a much bigger journey toward recovery.

After several hours of waiting, we received devastating news: Aaliyah was diagnosed with AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia). AML is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. It’s marked by the rapid growth of abnormal myeloid cells, which crowd out healthy blood cells and compromise the body’s ability to function properly.

As you can imagine, this diagnosis hit our family hard—especially my older sister. But by the grace of God, we were able to begin treatment the very same day at Sunnybrook Hospital.

We are now three weeks into her hospital stay, including a week of aggressive chemotherapy. Aaliyah has another three weeks to go as her body works toward remission. Her doctors have explained that due to the rare form of AML she has, a bone marrow transplant will be necessary to prevent the cancer from returning. If her first round of chemotherapy goes well, she may be able to come home for a short break—about a week or two—before beginning the next stage of treatment. After that, she will start the transplant process at Princess Margaret Hospital, where she’ll undergo four to six weeks of inpatient care.

Through it all, Aaliyah has shown incredible strength and resilience . She’s been a true warrior—fighting with her mind, body, and spirit. We are so grateful to have her with us. At just 20 years old, Aaliyah is a bright, loving young woman who was just beginning to explore the world and carve out her future. She’s hard-working, calm, and kind-hearted—always has been. She completed her first year of university and was set to return to school this September. She’s also a proud big sister to three brothers and a devoted dog mom to her pup, Milo. Adventurous, optimistic, strong-minded, and full of life, Aaliyah faces each day with her head held high and a smile that keeps us going.

My siblings and I have been doing our best to support my sister Heydi during this time. While she stays at the hospital with Aaliyah, we’ve stepped in to care for her other children. As a single mother of four, the financial burden is overwhelming—especially now, with little opportunity to work or keep up with everyday expenses.

We humbly ask for your support during this incredibly difficult time. Any contribution, no matter the size, would mean the world to us and will be received with deep gratitude. We also understand that many are facing their own challenges right now. If you're unable to give, we kindly ask for your prayers and well wishes for Aaliyah’s recovery.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and support our family.

With love and appreciation,

The Morales Family