Join the Battle for Braxton's Life

"I'm at Riley Hospital with Matt. Braxton was life lined from Martinsville. His white cell count was 860,000; it should be 10,000."

That message stopped me in my tracks.

Just one week earlier, Braxton was kayaking with family in Kentucky -- teasing his younger siblings, laughing, and brainstorming ways to turn his skills into a meaningful career.

Then, on Monday, June 9, everything changed.

Braxton was airlifted in critical condition from an ER in Martinsville to the PICU at Riley. His body was shutting down from an unknown illness. By the time he arrived, he had been sedated and intubated -- his condition far too unstable to manage without full support.

By Tuesday morning, we had a diagnosis: T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia -- an aggressive, fast-moving cancer. Doctors warned Matt and Amanda he might not survive the night.

___________________________________

"He's not going to make it. We're gathering family."

In just a few days, Braxton's condition became more dire:

Still, Braxton continued to fight.

And his care team fought alongside him.

PICU nurses, residents, specialists -- they all worked around the clock. Matt and Amanda never left his side. Even when doctors said there was nothing more to do, they kept advocating, asking, believing.

Thanks to their love and determination, a CT scan was finally performed. It revealed the source of Braxton's internal bleeding: a massive rupture in his spleen.

Braxton was rushed into emergency surgery to address the rupture. The risk was enormous and the outcome wasn't a sure thing, but our boy wasn't fazed.

He kept fighting.

He pulled through.

He survived.

___________________________________

Today, Braxton remains in critical condition. He’s still sedated, still receiving around-the-clock care, still fighting. And there are small signs of hope:

His care team continues to fight as hard as he does. Matt and Amanda are still by his side -- and they continue to advocate, ask, believe.

___________________________________

Braxton is only 19 years old. He's barely begun his life. And when he wakes up, he'll face a long, painful road to recovery -- and the crushing burden of medical debt. His family is and will continue doing everything they can, but the costs are staggering and, with no end in sight, overwhelming.

We're asking for your support to help cover the cost of:

Every dollar you give helps Braxton reclaim his future -- a future where he can contemplate and chase new goals, enjoy his life, and focus on healing instead of survival.

If you are able to give, please do.

Your donation, no matter the amount, will make a real and immediate difference.

And if you cannot donate, please share.

Send this page to others within your network, post it on your social accounts, text your friends and family.

Your support -- financial or not -- means the world to our family.

Thank you for helping us fight for Braxton's life.

Jessica, on behalf of Matt, Amanda, and the Wiggins family