Dear friends, family, and kind-hearted supporters,

We are reaching out with heavy hearts to ask for support for our beloved family members, Karl and Christel, who are facing an unimaginable season of life no young family should ever have to endure.

Just weeks before the expected arrival of their first baby, Karl was suddenly diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) which is an aggressive and life changing form of blood cancer. In what should have been the final joyful stretch of preparing to welcome their little one into the world, Karl and Christel have instead found themselves thrown into a whirlwind of long hospital admissions, tests, specialist appointments, and intensive chemotherapy treatment.

Karl is currently hospitalized and undergoing treatment, with a long and uncertain road ahead. AML requires immediate and aggressive care, and his days are now filled with chemotherapy, monitoring, side effects, and the physical and emotional toll that comes with fighting for his health. At the same time, Christel is navigating the final weeks of pregnancy while trying to remain strong for both Karl and their baby.

Karl is self-employed, which means this diagnosis has not only brought emotional devastation, but also an immediate and overwhelming financial impact. With Karl unable to work for the foreseeable future, and Christel preparing to give birth and care for their newborn during this incredibly fragile time, they are facing immense uncertainty about how they will manage the practical realities of everyday life while also focusing on what matters most: Karl’s treatment, Christel’s health, and the safe arrival of their baby.

We have set up this GoFundMe to help ease their financial burden and give them room to breathe during a time when they are simply trying to survive one day at a time. Funds raised will help with medical costs, daily expenses, and anything else they need along the way.

If you are able to donate, no matter the amount, it would mean more than words can say. And if you are not in a position to give, sharing this fundraiser and keeping Karl, Christel, and their baby in your thoughts and prayers would also mean the world to our family.

Thank you for standing beside them during one of the hardest chapters of their lives. Your kindness, generosity, and support will help carry them through more than you know.

With love and gratitude,


Amanda & Keith Vanleyden