Hi, everyone.

I’m writing this with a heaviness I never imagined carrying.

At the end of January, my 5‑year‑old niece, Kenzie, went from running around the house to suddenly crying in pain and unable to walk within just a couple of days. What we hoped was something simple, such as the initially suspected iron deficiency, turned into the kind of news no parent, no family, should ever have to hear.

Doctors found a 6×2‑inch neuroblastoma on her abdominal CT. It’s considered high‑risk, and within days we learned it had already spread to her pelvis, femurs, spine, and even the base of her skull. One moment her parents were trying to understand why she couldn’t walk, and the next they were being told their baby girl has cancer throughout her bones.

Kenzie has already begun chemotherapy in hopes of shrinking the tumor enough for eventual removal. She is also neutropenic, meaning a poor immune system and more susceptible to illness. She was readmitted shortly after coming home the first time with a virus her little body readily caught. Thankfully she's back at home now although on tube feeds and routine medications. Unfortunately, we know this won’t be the last hospital stay. There will be many more, along with trips to UAB and possibly St. Jude for specialized interventions.

All of this is happening while her parents are trying to juggle the needs of Kenzie’s 3 siblings, the constant back‑and‑forth to the hospital, missed work, and the emotional weight of watching their child dealing with this daily fight.

As her aunt, I’ve felt that familiar ache of wanting to do something, anything, to lighten the load, even when my hands feel tied. That’s why I’m creating this space. Your support will help with the countless expenses that come with a diagnosis like this: travel, meals, childcare, time away from work, medical costs, and the everyday needs that don’t pause just because life has.

If you’re able to give, share, or simply hold this family in your thoughts, it means more than I can express. Kenzie has a long road ahead, and her parents are doing everything in their power to keep her surrounded by love, stability, and hope.

Thank you for seeing her, for caring about her story, and for helping this family face the hardest chapter of their lives with a little more strength.