Help Support Lorelai’s Fight Against Leukemia

Just days before her second birthday, our daughter Lorelai was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). In April, Lorelai was hospitalized at McMaster Children's Hospital and received rounds of blood transfusions due to a viral infection. She seemingly had rebounded after a nine day stay in pediatric care and returned to her normal routines. However, after a follow up appointment, the doctors called to schedule an immediate bone marrow biopsy due to a concerning blood test result and admitted her to the Hematology and Oncology Clinic that afternoon. The next day we received confirmation of our worst fears. The treatment plan Lorelai must undergo is aggressive, to match the severity of her cancer. It is a comprehensive and grueling approach necessary to give her the best chance at survival.

Instead of planning a birthday party, we are now learning how to navigate a world of chemotherapy, hospital stays, and an unknown future.

Lorelai is everything to us. Always singing, always dancing, always lighting up a room with her joy. That light hasn’t dimmed, even now. But the road ahead is long, and it’s one no child should ever have to walk.

As her parents, we are doing everything we can to stay strong for her. Both of us will have to step aside from our careers to be there for her fight against cancer. The fight will be long, lasting well into the new year and possibly beyond her next birthday. Navigating this intense and uncertain journey will be incredibly difficult, but we remain deeply grateful for every bit of support they receive. The outpouring of love and generosity from friends, family, and the community has been a profound source of strength and hope during this unimaginably challenging time.

Alongside the emotional weight of this fight comes a growing financial burden. Time away from work, travel costs, meals on the go, hospital parking, and all the unforeseen expenses that come with a medical crisis. They add up quickly, and they add up quietly.

This is why we’re reaching out.

We’ve created this GoFundMe to give Lorelai the chance to keep being the little girl she was meant to be and to help lift the weight off her parents as they fight alongside her.

Your support will help:

If you’re able to give or simply share this story, we would be endlessly grateful. Every act of kindness helps carry us through.

We know we’re not alone. And we’re holding onto that.
Thank you for standing with us, for believing in Lorelai, and for helping us fight for her future. Lorelai is fighting for her life, and she needs her village now more than ever. By donating or sharing her story, you become part of her journey to healing and hope.

Together, we can give Lorelai the chance to beat this aggressive cancer and live the bright, beautiful life she deserves.

Thank you for taking the time to read Lorelai's story. It truly means the world to all who have come to know and love her in her short 2 years with us.

With love and endless gratitude,

The Vander Vlugt Family