Hello all and thanks for taking a look at my fundraiser to help raise money for the Neary's as Ellie battles Leukemia.

Ellie was born with hydrocephalus and tackled two brain surgeries before she was a year and a half old. Now, at 3 years old, she has a new diagnosis of B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and it is time for her to kick cancer's butt too! She is in the very beginning of her hospital stay and treatment. As a parent myself, I can imagine the overwhelm, sadness, anger, confusion, and all the other emotions they must be feeling right now.

So many friends and family have reached out to offer support, and I know how much Pat and Katy appreciate it. They are so grateful for all the prayers, well wishes, and other support they have received. I know many of you want to send Ellie toys and other gifts while she is in the hospital. But honestly, the best way to support Pat and Katy during this difficult time is to help them financially.

The reality is they still have bills to pay. Neither Pat nor Katy work where paid family medical leave is offered. So while they both are out of work right now to care for Ellie, they have no income. Ellie will be in the hospital for at least a month and will need continued care and treatment even after her hospital stay is over. Luckily, they are still able to get medical coverage through work, but now must pay for the premiums out-of-pocket. They are tapping into all the resources they can, but it's still not enough.

The hospital has provided Ellie with so many new toys and even an iPad! What they really need right now is financial support. If you feel compelled to provide a gift, I am asking you to think about a financial gift to help support them during this time. Rent, utilities, car, insurance, and even medical bills from Ellie’s previous surgeries still need to be paid. Your financial support will help them continue to pay those bills and not fall into too much debt while they are unemployed to take care of Ellie. They also need to make sure Emmie (Ellie’s little sister) is kept happy and comfortable while they are balancing time between the hospital and spending time with Emmie.

Regardless of whether you can give, I know Pat and Katy will continue to be appreciative and grateful for the continued prayers, thoughts, encouragement, and anything else you can provide. Thank you for your support, in whatever way you provide it. Ellie also loves to receive get well cards and special drawings to decorate her room, so if you can’t help financially, please feel free to reach out for an address to send handmade drawings to help lift Ellie’s spirits. Ellie is a fighter and we have faith that she will kick cancer’s butt!!

#EllieStrong #EllieStrongALL #kickcancersbutt #fightlikeEllie #princesswarrior