Hello, My name is Tessa and Iris is my 6 year old niece. She is in the battle of her life right now against Leukemia and her mom, Michaela is living every parents worst nightmare.

What started as a fever that would come and go for a few days, turned into random bruises that were unexplainable and then her color started to change to a faint yellow, all within a few days. Michaela's motherly intuition knew that something wasn't right and had a gut feeling what it was.

On January 20th their world was flipped upside down, Michaela's prediction proved accurate when the hospital confirmed her diagnosis of leukemia.

They were then rushed by ambulance to Madera Children's Hospital, an hour and a half away, where they did a bone marrow aspiration and lumbar puncture to determine the type of leukemia that Iris was up against. After days of back and forth on the type of cancer it was, they finally had the answers they were waiting for to be able to start her treatment, AML leukemia. Once they knew what type of leukemia it was, they had a treatment plan. Chemo was administered twice a day for 10 days. Once her ANC numbers were at 0 it was then a waiting game for them to go back up to 500 on their own. During her stay she was given multiple blood and platelet transfusions which gave her life and energy, you would never know she was sick some days because of how resilient she is.

On February 29th, after spending 41 days in the hospital, Iris was able to go home to be with her brother and sisters! She will be home for a few weeks (aside from her weekly appointments) before having to go back to the hospital for her next round of chemo. Iris and Michaela will spend 3-4 weeks in the hospital when chemo is given depending on how long it takes for her ANC numbers to go back up from 0. They still have 6-7 months left of treatments.

Iris is full of spirit and she is a fighter! Throughout this entire process, she has been an incredible source of inspiration. She has endured more than most adults have in her short 6 years of life and she continues to radiate positivity. She will get through this and continue shining her light on this world!

Michaela lost her husband (Iris's dad) two years ago. She is fighting this battle as Mom and Dad so she isn't able to work because she is where she needs to be, right by Iris's side during this unimaginable time. Michaela has 5 kids total, Iris is the second to youngest. Michaela is fortunate to have her grandparents to watch after the other kids while she is in the hospital with Iris.

With Michaela not being able to work and the need to still support her family, she is feeling the financial burden along with the need for a new vehicle. She needed a new vehicle before all of this took place but even more now with the commute she is having to make for treatments.

If you are in a place to donate, it is greatly appreciated! If you are not able to, please keep Iris and Michaela in your prayers, they are just as appreciated. The positive thoughts and prayers have been felt and mean the world!

Thank you for your support during this time, Iris still has a long road ahead but she is so lucky to have so many amazing people in her corner during this fight!