Hi, I’m Holly. There are some things a parent never imagines having to write. This is one of them. Our daughter, Alexa, has been battling leukemia since she was 9 years old. For the last 10 years, our lives have been filled with hospital stays, chemotherapy, surgeries, blood transfusions, countless doctor appointments, and prayers that carried us through some of our darkest days. Through it all, Alexa has never let cancer define who she is. She’s vibrant. She’s a little bit of fire… an old soul with the biggest heart. She loves her family, loves being on the lake, snuggling with her hound dog, watching movies, and finding joy in life’s simple moments. Recently, after conversations with her doctors, prayer, and many tears, Alexa made the incredibly difficult decision to stop treatment. This wasn’t a decision she made overnight.

One day we were driving together and she opened up to me in a way she never had before. Through tears she said, “Mom, I just wish I could be a normal 19-year-old for a little while.” She told me she was tired—not tired of life, but tired of feeling sick, tired of the hospital stays, the needles, the medications, and never feeling like herself. As her mom, I asked every question I could think of. I needed to know this wasn’t just a hard day. I needed to understand her heart. She looked at me and said, “Mom, I’ve thought about this for a long time. I can laugh and joke around with you guys, but you don’t see what happens when I’m alone. You don’t see how exhausted I am or how much I hurt.” She told me that finally saying those words out loud felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. For the first time in a long time, she felt at peace. Her doctors have been honest with us that without continuing treatment, leukemia will take over. We don’t know exactly how long we have. We only know that our time to make these memories is now. We don’t want to waste a single day.

So that’s exactly what we’re choosing. We’re choosing family. We’re choosing laughter. We’re choosing sunsets on the lake, movie nights, road trips, new places, big hugs, good food, and pictures we’ll treasure forever. Ordinary moments that become unforgettable memories. Alexa has dreams she’d still love to experience—she dreams of seeing Puerto Rico, Hawaii, South Carolina, and even Paris. Whether we make it to every place or not, what matters most is simply being together while she’s still feeling well enough to enjoy it. I’ll be stepping away from work because there is nowhere else I’d rather be than beside her, so your support will also help cover some of our bills.

We’re asking for help so we can spend this precious time making memories instead of worrying about finances. Your generosity will help cover travel, everyday living expenses, and replace some of the income I’ll lose while I’m away from work caring for my daughter. If you feel led to give, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. If you’re not able to give, we completely understand. We’d be so grateful for your prayers, and we’d love it if you’d share Alexa’s story with others. We’ll be sharing pictures and updates along the way so you can celebrate every adventure, every smile, every sunset, and every precious memory your kindness helped make possible. From our family to yours… Thank you for taking the time to get to know our beautiful Alexa. With love, Holly, Justin & Family.