Lilly is a bright, funny, and loving 10-year-old who lights up every room she enters. Just a few weeks ago, she was an energetic little girl who loved cheer, laughter, and making everyone smile. Then, without warning, our world turned upside down. On October 16, 2025, Lilly collapsed at school and suffered a brain stem brain bleed that changed everything. Lilly suffered a rupture of an AV fistula in her brain — a rare and serious medical emergency. She was rushed into emergency surgery where doctors repaired the bleed, removed part of the back of her skull, and placed an external ventricular drain (EVD) to relieve the pressure on her brain. Since then, she has remained in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital (San Francisco), receiving around-the-clock care from an incredible medical team.

Right now, Lilly is stable but still sedated and on a ventilator. She will soon undergo a tracheostomy to help her breathe safely during her long recovery. Doctors have told us she’ll remain in the PICU for at least three months, followed by many more months of rehabilitation. Her prognosis is hopeful — she’s strong and fighting — but it’s realistic. We know she will have some lasting deficits and brain damage; we just don’t yet know how much.

We are doing everything we can to be with her as often as possible through this journey, but travel from Missouri to San Francisco has completely wiped out our savings and added thousands in credit-card debt. We’re raising funds to help cover travel, lodging, and basic expenses so we can continue to visit and support her through her recovery.

Every donation, no matter the amount, helps us stay close to Lilly while she fights her way back. Your support means the world to us — it helps us be there to hold her hand, talk to her, and remind her she’s not alone in this fight.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for reading, sharing, donating, and praying for Lilly. She’s our brave little fighter, and your kindness gives us the strength to keep going.