My name is Priscilla, and I’m the proud mother of two beautiful, brave, and wonderful girls.

As a mom, December 10th, 2021, was the worst day of my life. My youngest daughter, Annelise, was a happy, bubbly, and completely healthy 11-year-old when she went in for what we thought would be a routine MRI. But that day, our world changed forever. Doctors found a golf ball–sized mass on her thalamus, and she was admitted immediately in preparation for a biopsy.

She never got the chance to come back home.

During surgery, Annelise suffered multiple strokes and a massive brain bleed that left her in a coma for three months. When she finally woke up, she was completely paralyzed—unable to move, talk, eat, walk, hear, or even breathe on her own. She spent over seven months in the ICU, and during that time, we lost our home and had to move into the Ronald McDonald House to stay close to her.

Annelise is now back home, continuing her recovery and rehabilitation. She has therapy every day, and with her incredible determination and fighting spirit, she has regained much of her functionality. She continues to fight every single day to reclaim as much of her past life as she can.

As a disabled mother, I do my best to support her while my husband works hard to balance caring for her and keeping food on the table. Because Annelise has a shunt in her brain, air travel is impossible, so we drive twice a year from Florida to New York for her imaging and treatment. Unfortunately, our car is no longer reliable enough to make the long trip safely.

Rising costs, inflation, and the recent loss of our food assistance have made things even more difficult. Thankfully, the Ronald McDonald House continues to provide us a place to stay at no cost, which is a huge blessing.

If you can find it in your heart to help us continue this fight, we would be deeply grateful. Every bit of support—whether it’s a donation, a share, or simply keeping Annelise in your prayers—means the world to us.

No child should have to fight alone.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness and compassion.
❤️ Priscilla and family