Help baby Julia defeat Leukemia

Hi, my name is Samira, and I am fundraising for my baby cousin Julia to defeat Leukemia.

It is too soon for Julia's parents to know exactly how much the medical bills will add up to; at the moment, we are fundraising for the following:

Below is a message written by Julia's parents:

Thursday, May 18th, was a day that turned our family's world upside down. It was the day we discovered that Julia, our little daughter, was facing a serious health challenge and her journey toward healing began. What we initially thought was a common cold led to a visit to a walk-in clinic, which eventually resulted in hospital admission. As parents, it was a journey we never anticipated or volunteered for. Julia had been experiencing cold and fever symptoms for nearly a month. On the previous day, we had been given a diagnosis of a "children viral rash" and sent home. However, unsatisfied with the doctor's assessment, we decided to visit another walk-in clinic the following day. Hoping to avoid the same doctor, but ironically, the same doctor was on call at that location as well. We were filled with dread and disbelief, but thankfully, my husband was with me, and I knew he wouldn't let this doctor dismiss us easily. With him by my side, I felt safe and determined, ready to advocate for our baby.

After waiting for about 1.5 hours, we were called by the triage, only to be sent upstairs to the 4th floor where they had redirected all the walk-in patients from the lower floor. It seemed like an attempt to address the understaffing issue they were facing. We waited for another 1.5 hours, making it a total of 3 hours when my husband approached a nurse to inquire about Julia's position on the list. To our surprise, they were calling

people who arrived after us before calling us.

The nurse promised to check and returned a few minutes later, informing us that there were 8 patients ahead of us and we would have to wait an additional 2 hours. Frustrated and disappointed, we decided to leave the clinic, but not before expressing our dissatisfaction. Coincidentally, it was also our 22nd wedding anniversary, so to lighten the mood, we went for a quick dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Morena's in HB.

Around 8:30 pm, I dropped off my husband and headed back to the same walk-in clinic we visited the previous day, luckily, the doctor who had brushed us off before was not present. I arrived at around 8:50 pm and we were directed to an actual pediatrician's office on the upper floor. To our surprise, there was no wait at all, as if the clinic was reserved just for Julia and me. I tearfully explained all of Julia's symptoms to the doctor, desperate for help. Our baby had an elevated heart rate, a high fever, a severe rash, and small bumps caused by bruises. I was deeply concerned about how pale she looked. The doctor immediately ordered a blood test, chest X-rays, and a urine test. Within 30 minutes, she returned with devastating news. The blood results were highly abnormal, with an extremely elevated white blood cell count, depleted red blood cells, and a critically low hemoglobin level indicating severe anemia. Then came the words no parent wants to hear – the doctor was consulting with a blood and cancer specialist, and it was not safe for Julia to return home.

My husband and older children were on a speaker call, while I held baby

Julia as she slept soundly in my arms. Our world was shattered, turned upside down, and we were left breathless. However, this incredible doctor immediately secured a bed for us at the nearest hospital. We literally walked into a hospital bed. At 4:30 am, we were on a phone call with the oncology specialist who explained her findings based on the test results. She mentioned that it appeared to be leukemia, and in order to give Julia a

fighting chance, we needed to stabilize her with a blood transfusion and conduct further tests to confirm the diagnosis. Time was of the essence, and we needed to act quickly.

On Friday, May 19th, the testing process began. The specialist visited us and confirmed her suspicions. Our precious baby girl had been diagnosed with B-ALL (B-Cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia).

B-ALL is a type of leukemia, a fast-growing blood cancer. In this condition, there is an excessive presence of immature white blood cells called lymphoblasts in both the blood and bone marrow.

As a family, we were devastated and shattered by the news. However, amidst our pain, we held onto hope because Julia's prognosis was promising. We were fortunate to have an incredible team of medical professionals caring for her and a supportive staff guiding us through this challenging journey. We believe in the power of a Mighty God, and we

know that nothing is impossible for Him. Despite the ups and downs, we are witnessing an outpouring of love, peace, and compassion like never before. Our unwavering commitment is to stand by our baby girl and shower her with immense love. Each one of us at home is determined and dedicated to helping Julia overcome this illness.

For those who know Julia personally or have seen the countless pictures I've shared on Facebook, you are aware of her fierce spirit, adorable sassy attitude, and boundless joy and curiosity. She is the sunshine and princess of our Escobar home.

We are now living in a new reality, one that we never anticipated. However, we draw strength from Julia's fighting spirit, and we have full confidence that God is her source of strength and ours. This experience has taught us to trust more deeply and to place our hope in God on a profound level. We speak life and miraculous healing into existence, praying for physical strength in Julia's body that can only come from Jesus. She is loved

beyond measure, and we have felt the overwhelming love, prayers, and support from our family, friends, and church community.

We genuinely appreciate your prayers for our baby Julia during this challenging time and we thank you for all of your support. If you would like to follow her journey and receive updates on her condition, please follow our blog. I will keep you all informed with brief reports, prayer requests, and testimonies of how we have experienced God's providential care throughout this season.

In God, we place our trust, for He is our help and our shield. Our hearts rejoice in Him, for we trust in His holy name. We pray for His unfailing love to surround us, as our hope rests solely in Him.

Love,

The Escobar's