A Huge Milestone Reached & The Road to Transplant First, we want to say an overwhelming thank you to everyone who has donated, shared, and prayed for Mariah. Because of your incredible generosity, we were able to secure a safe, reliable vehicle (a Kia Telluride) to replace our broken-down car! This has been an absolute lifesaver for our grueling 800+ mile weekly commutes to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Your support directly gave Mariah a safe ride to her treatments. As Mariah grows, her medical battle is shifting into its most critical phase yet: preparing for a kidney transplant and major reconstructive surgeries. Here is where Mariah’s journey stands today, and why we still desperately need our village. Mariah’s Journey: A Brave Fight Against All Odds Mariah’s fight began before she was even born. Delivered early via emergency C-section on April 8th, 2024, due to life-threatening maternal preeclampsia, Mariah was immediately rushed to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital—the only facility equipped to handle her complex needs. She has spent her entire life fighting multiple, unrelated rare conditions: Cloacal Malformation & Fused Kidneys: Mariah was born with abnormally small, fused kidneys and a rare birth defect where her digestive, urinary, and reproductive tracts were merged. She required immediate life-saving surgeries, including the placement of a colostomy bag, and has been feeding-tube dependent her entire life. Bilateral Retinoblastoma (Eye Cancer): Genetic testing revealed an RB1 mutation, and tumors were discovered in both of her eyes. Mariah endured a grueling battle with chemotherapy. Though the chemo made her critically ill with life-threatening sepsis, it successfully stabilized the tumors. She is now cancer-free but requires intense, active monitoring with monthly operating room visits under anesthesia. Severe Hip Dysplasia: Mariah was also diagnosed with severe hip dysplasia, which requires a major corrective surgery and a full-leg body cast for 1 to 2 years to ensure she will one day be able to walk. Renal Failure: The very chemotherapy that saved her life from cancer caused severe kidney injury, leaving Mariah in full renal failure. Where We Are Today: The Complex Road to Transplant Mariah is currently fighting renal failure by undergoing mandatory dialysis three times every single week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). Missing a single treatment is immediately life-threatening. Ultimately, Mariah needs a life-saving kidney transplant. However, her anatomy presents a massive, tangled puzzle that the incredible team at Cincinnati Children's must solve before she can be placed on the active transplant list: 1. The Growth Goal: Mariah has been undergoing growth therapy to get her big and strong enough for transplant surgery. 2. The Surgical Domino Effect: She cannot get her urgent hip surgery because the hip is on the same side as her colostomy bag. The colostomy bag cannot be reversed until doctors perform the highly complex separation surgery to correct her cloacal malformation. To complicate matters, recent imaging shows her internal organs are in tangled, non-anatomical positions. We are looking at an extended road ahead filled with major, consecutive surgeries and long-term hospital stays. Our Continuous Need: Upkeep, Long Stays, and Daily Survival Because Cincinnati Children's Hospital is 131 miles away from our home in Danville, Kentucky, mom cannot return to work. We are constantly juggling Mariah's intense medical schedule while raising her 4-year-old big sister, Alilah. While the burden of finding a reliable car has been lifted thanks to you, the financial strain of keeping this life-saving operation running is immense. We are asking for your continued support to fund: Vehicle Upkeep & Commuting: With 3,200+ miles driven every month just for dialysis, the costs for gas, regular oil changes, tire rotations, insurance, and routine maintenance on our new vehicle are staggering. Long-Term Hospital Stays & Reconstructive Surgeries: As Mariah enters the hospital for her upcoming major organ-separation, colostomy reversal, hip, and transplant surgeries, our family faces massive out-of-pocket costs. Food, lodging, and basic necessities during these long hospitalizations quickly add up. Emergency Lodging: Ronald McDonald House cannot always accommodate outpatient dialysis schedules or short-notice weather emergencies. We need a safety net for hotel stays during treacherous winter road conditions so Mariah never misses a life-saving dialysis appointment. Daily Survival: Keeping up with rent, utilities, and medication co-pays on a single income while living out of a hospital. Mariah is a survivor. She smiles through the dialysis, the surgeries, and the endless appointments. Please consider donating to help us maintain our vehicle, stay by her bedside during her upcoming transplant journey, and give her the future she deserves. Every dollar, every share, and every prayer counts. Thank you for being Mariah’s village.