Help the Ruiz-Verile Family Help Sophie Fight Cancer

GRATITUDE UPDATE:

Words will never do justice to the incredible amount of gratitude the Ruiz-Verile family feels for the amazing support and generosity experienced in the last month and especially within the last 24 hours. In less than a day our communities and village helped raise more donations to support Sophie, Cassie, Justin and Lily than we ever could have imagined. It isn’t easy to ask for support when you need it, but you all have blown us away with your response. We are truly humbled and truly grateful.

Given that Sophie was supposed to have a surgery today that instead was met with disappointing news of an infection, you can’t know how this has positively impacted an otherwise hard day, in a series of many hard days.

Thank you for everything, including those who supported by sharing a donation of any amount, sharing this GoFundMe, and/or offering other ways to help.

With unending gratitude.

UPDATE: Sophie was supposed to have her third surgery this week (5/28/2024), Unfortunately, her medical team discovered an infection in her brain and that will postpone the surgery and hope of leaving the hospital to go home anywhere from 2-6 weeks. This will add additional unexpected costs for all the items listed below that your donations will help with. Thank you all again.

Sophie is a happy, clever, curious, strong and loving 18 month old. Just over a month ago her young life and the life of her family changed in a moment when, on a visit to the ER for vomiting, not one but two cancerous brain tumors were discovered. After being airlifted to children’s hospital, Sophie has had two removal surgeries and is scheduled for a third surgery this month.

Sophie has been at Children’s hospital and away from home for over a month, fighting. Her parents have been at her side, supporting her every step of the way. She will undergo many weeks of chemo treatments, some at her local hospital but half at children’s hospital - among other therapies such as occupational and physical therapy.

Her mom and dad (Cassie and Justin) have been balancing being at her side and trying to make sure their older daughter, Lily has some sense of her normal routine back at home.

It feels impossible to describe or imagine how all their lives have changed in the last few weeks and the emotional ups and downs they’re enduring.

They have had an outpouring of love and support which is a true testament to the amazing, caring and generous people that they are.

Friends and family have been reaching out to ask what else they can do to support them in this time. While Sophie is a warrior and now has two surgeries under her belt, there is still a long road ahead. The Ruiz-Verile family continues to incur expenses with interruption with work, gas to and from the hospital (an hour away from home), meals on the go or at the hospital, special clothing and items for Sophie for chemo treatment, toys, games and books to keep Sophie’s spirits up, medical expenses and so much more. Contributing to this go fund me will help support the Ruiz-Verile family so that they can focus on getting Sophie well and keeping life as normal as possible for Lily (and their dog Sirius).

Thank you all for your love, your prayers, your thoughts and wishes, and all your ongoing support for Sophie, Cassie, Justin, Lily, and Sirius.