Help Avery Mae and Her Family Beat Leukemia

My 4yr old niece Avery Mae Hale, the youngest of my sister Janet’s six kids, was flown from the emergency room near their home to Lurie’s Children’s Hospital in Chicago on Monday 12/28/20. On Wednesday 12/30/20, Avery Mae was diagnosed with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Since Monday night, Avery Mae has had to receive multiple units of blood, platelets, fluids, x-rays, ultrasounds, and various other diagnostic tests and procedures. She had surgery for a port-a-cath placement, and she had a lumbar puncture for a bone marrow biopsy and they are still awaiting those results. She started chemo Wednesday night shortly after her port was placed and the biopsies were completed. Janet and Avery Mae’s dad have been in Chicago and by her side the whole time. Janet works 60+ hours a week at the steel mill to provide for her kiddos and make sure they have what they need. She’s never complained, and has always just been the quiet mom and stayed strong and kept moving forward. 

However, Janet needs our help now.  Once discharged, Avery Mae will need to go to Lurie’s weekly for chemo infusions in addition to various doctor and oncologic team appointments. Janet will need to miss work, there will be medication and other medical expenses, travel expenses, and care needed for Avery Mae’s siblings and their home as well. 

I’ve set up this GoFundMe account because I love my sister and her kids. I want to be able to help them more, but I don’t live close and can only get back and forth so much. Our family is very small, and we will do what we can to help, but I am asking for and hoping for more help than we can give by ourselves. 

Avery Mae is the sweetest little girl. Her siblings love her and are scared. Avery is scared. The whole family is terrified and overwhelmed by this sudden diagnosis and change of life that has to happen to help make sure she beats this. 

Please consider donating to Avery Mae’s GoFundMe account. If you can’t, please send up some prayers and love for her and her family. Share this GoFundMe link. If you’d like to drop off food or anything, please do. They have a freezer in the garage and the more they can get stocked up now, the less they’ll have to worry about over the next weeks and months. Every little bit helps.