A is a high school freshman living in Baltimore City. Instead of having fun with her friends, going to school, and getting into the kind of harmless trouble 14-year-olds should be getting into, she stays home. A tutor from the school district visits her. She doesn't get to go outside. Friends can only rarely visit. This is because A was recently diagnosed with late-stage bone marrow cancer, a debilitating disease with outcomes we don't like to think about.

Arriving at this diagnosis was not easy or fast. For years, A has endured endless doctor's visits, tests, getting poked and prodded, trying to get to the cause of the pain she was suffering. Along the way, A and her family also faced moments of discrimination making an already difficult process even harder. Her mother, B, has driven her to these appointments, disrupting employment opportunities and the regular challenges of everyday life. Tragically, B's husband, A's father, passed away in 2016. The two of them live together with A's older sister, who is also in high school.

Before she got sick, A was an active kid who loved dancing (specially Zumba!), swimming, and roller-skating. Her illness now limits many of the physical activities that once filled her with joy. Still, she continues to find happiness in arts and crafts, creating drawings, paintings, handmade jewelry, and felt crafts. She dreams of becoming a fashion designer and hopes to run her own business one day. She is incredibly excited for her Quinceañera!

For now, those dreams are overshadowed by mounting expenses the family can no longer keep up with. Basic home repairs have been put on hold. Even paying for gas and groceries has become a challenge.

But there is good news: The prognosis for A's cancer is improving. She is responding well to chemotherapy, no longer needs weekly blood transfusions, and (amazingly!) she is slowly starting to dance again. Still, the stress and fear her family carries is debilitating.

Please consider giving what you can to help this beautiful family pay for medical bills, transportation, home repairs, and keeping food on the table. Every little bit you can give is more than they have. Thank you.