Hello everyone,

My name is Melinda Giles, and I am April Trail’s oldest cousin. April, who has Down syndrome, has always been the heart of our large family—from taking photos with everyone around her to performing dance numbers for us all. A few weeks ago, we received news that none of us were prepared for: April has been diagnosed with B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

If you know April, you know the kind of inspiration she is. Without even realizing it, she has touched the lives of everyone around her. As a pediatric physical therapist, even my patients know that April is the reason I chose my profession. Her light truly knows no bounds. From singing and dancing along to her favorite songs, to getting fun drinks with her favorite people, April radiates a joy and positivity that is impossible not to admire.

This diagnosis has brought profound changes—not only to April’s life, but to her entire family’s. On November 10th, the Trail family’s world tilted on its axis. In just one week, April’s life became confined to a hospital room as she began intensive chemotherapy. Over the past 50+ days in the hospital, there have been many ups and downs. This week, April began a new immunotherapy treatment, which we are hopeful will eradicate the leukemia from her body.

From the moment treatment began, April’s loved ones, family, friends, and even strangers, have reached out asking how they can help. As April’s care has become more complex, the daily demands on her and her family have grown immense. Some days, eating, walking, and even speaking are a struggle for her. This fund has been created to help ease the financial burden placed on the Trail family during this long hospital stay and ongoing treatment. Donations will go toward medical expenses not covered by insurance, medications, travel to and from the hospital, meals during extended hospital stays, necessary medical supplies, and the loss of income from time away from work allowing April’s family to focus fully on her care and recovery.

Thank you for supporting April on this long road ahead. We believe in her strength and her resilience, and we know she is capable of winning this fight. We continue to pray for healing, comfort, and endurance—and as April would say, “Down syndrome rocks”

You can follow April’s journey on Instagram: @aprilsarmy_