My name is Sarah Alanis, and I am currently Scarlett's toddler teacher. Scarlett joined our community last spring and has made an impact on all who have met her. We are so grateful to have the Dykstra family at our school! At the beginning of summer, Scarlett became ill and required emergency surgery, and an extended hospital stay. Her family is now receiving numerous hospital bills, and they can use all the help they can get to cover Scarlett's medical expenses.

From Morgan, Scarlett's mom:

In June, our daughter Scarlett became very sick. After several pediatric visits where she was treated for what was believed to be a viral infection, an underlying ear infection was unfortunately missed. It quickly progressed, and when her eye suddenly swelled overnight, we rushed her to Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor.

By the next morning, Scarlett was in emergency surgery to remove a severe bacterial infection in her mastoid bone. She spent two weeks in the NICU and hospital, undergoing scans and working with multiple specialty teams.

After finally coming home, her eye swelling returned a few days later, and she was readmitted. Thankfully, it was determined that the abscess behind her eye had ruptured, and after a few days of monitoring, she recovered and was able to come home again. Today she is healthy, happy, and back to her bright, playful self.

We’ve set a goal of $18,000 to help cover Scarlett’s medical bills, the follow-up care she needed afterward, and the income our family lost during the two months I stepped away from work to care for her.

We are so grateful for the incredible care Scarlett received and for the love, generosity, and support from our family, friends, and community. Every donation, message, share, and prayer truly means more than we can ever express. ♥️