For Mila’s 6th Birthday, We’re Asking for Hope

This September, our sweet Mila turns 6.

Mila has a rare neurological disorder called STXBP1, which affects her movement, muscle tone, development, and can cause seizures. At almost 6 years old, she still cannot walk, talk, or sit independently — but every single day, she works with so much strength, joy, and determination.

She is the happiest little fighter. Mila loves her brothers, princess dresses, music, pom-poms, attention, and being part of every adventure. Her smile lights up every room she enters.

Earlier this year, we took Mila to Panama for stem cell therapy, hoping to give her every possible chance to grow stronger and continue making progress. After her first round, we saw encouraging changes that gave our family so much hope.

Many families we met shared that their children saw the most progress after multiple rounds, often 3–4 treatments. Because of that, our goal is to help Mila complete at least three rounds.

We are currently fundraising for Mila’s second treatment, scheduled for August. The cost of this round is approximately $16,000 and includes 60 million expanded allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells administered over four days, two MTF vials, and extensive blood work to evaluate vitamin levels and overall health before treatment. In addition to the treatment itself, we must also cover airfare, food etc, and other medical-related travel expenses.

Unfortunately, none of these costs are covered by insurance.

So for Mila’s 6th birthday, instead of gifts, we are asking for something much bigger: help giving Mila more chances. More strength. More independence. More progress. More hope.

Any donation, share, or prayer means more to our family than we can ever put into words. Every contribution helps us continue fighting for Mila’s future and giving her every opportunity possible.

Thank you for loving Mila, believing in her, and standing beside us as we fight for her future.

For most children, turning 6 means starting new adventures. For Mila, turning 6 means continuing the fight for milestones many take for granted.

With love,

Laura & Family