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It Takes a Village
It takes a village to raise a child. It takes an extraordinary village to carry a child up and over a medical challenge.
Maya Rubio: a beautiful high school freshman. Her story is one of strength, endurance and hope. As a 15 year old, only a few chapters of Maya’s life have been written. But as fate has insisted on authoring a few difficult chapters, her friends and family are stepping in to ensure the ending is a triumphant one.
Maya’s Story
Over the past few months, Maya was having muscle cramps and feeling more tired than usual. Stomach aches and a general uncomfortable feeling became common complaints. It was easy to attribute many of her symptoms to the flu, starting high school, playing two varsity sports and concentrating on maintaining stellar grades in her classes. However, her parents could tell that something just didn't seem right.
On Friday, April 28th, Maya’s mom Kelsey took her to see the doctor. Believing that this was more than a virus, Kelsey requested blood work be performed. The results revealed that Maya was extremely anemic and her platelet count was very low. Portsmouth Hospital conducted further tests and, once they suspected leukemia, they transported Maya directly to Boston Children's Hospital.
Since Maya arrived at Boston Children’s two weeks ago, she has gone through a multitude of tests and has begun aggressive treatments, treatments that will continue for approximately two years. Maya’s stamina, strength and endurance are second-to-none and we know she is going to fight and beat this! That said, there is nothing nice about cancer, chemotherapy and radiation. Those three hurdles, although surmountable, can certainly take a toll on one’s body and one’s spirit. Rather, we are focussing on the 90% remission rate (Maya has never been in the bottom 10% of anything) and the fact that, prayerfully, in two years her cancer will be gone and NEVER come back.
The "Rubio Village" has asked for a plan to show our support for Maya, Kelsey, Alex and Gabe; we launch this GoFundMe site in support of them.
Long-term illness brings more than anxiety and worry about the diagnosis and its effects. The overwhelming financial burden associated with a serious illness and its treatment is an added stressor. This GoFundMe’s purpose is to grant the Rubio Family space- space to focus on their beautiful child, space to follow her healing progress, space to be there with her at every moment as she battles leukemia. Travel, food, gas and lodging expenses add up quickly. Alex and Kelsey need and want to focus 100% on Maya and Gabe.
When illness sneaks up on people, life suddenly stands still. A normal Tuesday (or Wednesday or Saturday) are no longer “normal”. Hours, days, and weeks are forever changed as medicine, treatments, and prescriptions become the new norm. A “good night’s sleep” is a thing of the past.
Many have asked about the best way to help the Rubio Family. In addition to prayer, a donation (of any amount) will help relieve the family’s burden of expense while it focuses on the one thing that matters most- Maya getting better!
Diagnosis and Prognosis/Medical Details
As many of you know, Maya is at Boston Children's Hospital undergoing treatment for B type Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (BALL or more commonly ALL).
• It's the most common type of leukemia found in children and has a very successful remission rate. (90%)
• At Maya's age, treatment is aggressive. Thankfully, Boston Children's is the best place in the world to receive this treatment.
• Treatment will run about two years.
• Maya will be at Boston Children's Hospital until early June. She will then receive inpatient/outpatient treatment at The Dana Farber Research Center right next door to Children's. The length of her stays over the next two years will be determined by a variety of medical factors. Stays could be as short as 2 weeks or they could run longer. Hopefully, as time goes on, Maya will only need to be there a few days at a time.
Part II
Maya has enjoyed an awesome first chapter of her life. Although the second chapter has begun with adversity, we have no doubt that she will tackle this as she has everything else, with success.
With faith, hope and healing, Maya is going to enjoy a future unlike any other. She will one day be able to share with others the lessons learned from this ordeal and remind them that- with tenacity, time and faith- no obstacle is too great, no burden too heavy and no prayer too simple to remain unanswered.
Thank you for clasping hands with the Rubio Family as we march toward the finish line of health and healing. #PrayersForPapaya
It takes a village to raise a child. It takes an extraordinary village to carry a child up and over a medical challenge.
Maya Rubio: a beautiful high school freshman. Her story is one of strength, endurance and hope. As a 15 year old, only a few chapters of Maya’s life have been written. But as fate has insisted on authoring a few difficult chapters, her friends and family are stepping in to ensure the ending is a triumphant one.
Maya’s Story
Over the past few months, Maya was having muscle cramps and feeling more tired than usual. Stomach aches and a general uncomfortable feeling became common complaints. It was easy to attribute many of her symptoms to the flu, starting high school, playing two varsity sports and concentrating on maintaining stellar grades in her classes. However, her parents could tell that something just didn't seem right.
On Friday, April 28th, Maya’s mom Kelsey took her to see the doctor. Believing that this was more than a virus, Kelsey requested blood work be performed. The results revealed that Maya was extremely anemic and her platelet count was very low. Portsmouth Hospital conducted further tests and, once they suspected leukemia, they transported Maya directly to Boston Children's Hospital.
Since Maya arrived at Boston Children’s two weeks ago, she has gone through a multitude of tests and has begun aggressive treatments, treatments that will continue for approximately two years. Maya’s stamina, strength and endurance are second-to-none and we know she is going to fight and beat this! That said, there is nothing nice about cancer, chemotherapy and radiation. Those three hurdles, although surmountable, can certainly take a toll on one’s body and one’s spirit. Rather, we are focussing on the 90% remission rate (Maya has never been in the bottom 10% of anything) and the fact that, prayerfully, in two years her cancer will be gone and NEVER come back.
The "Rubio Village" has asked for a plan to show our support for Maya, Kelsey, Alex and Gabe; we launch this GoFundMe site in support of them.
Long-term illness brings more than anxiety and worry about the diagnosis and its effects. The overwhelming financial burden associated with a serious illness and its treatment is an added stressor. This GoFundMe’s purpose is to grant the Rubio Family space- space to focus on their beautiful child, space to follow her healing progress, space to be there with her at every moment as she battles leukemia. Travel, food, gas and lodging expenses add up quickly. Alex and Kelsey need and want to focus 100% on Maya and Gabe.
When illness sneaks up on people, life suddenly stands still. A normal Tuesday (or Wednesday or Saturday) are no longer “normal”. Hours, days, and weeks are forever changed as medicine, treatments, and prescriptions become the new norm. A “good night’s sleep” is a thing of the past.
Many have asked about the best way to help the Rubio Family. In addition to prayer, a donation (of any amount) will help relieve the family’s burden of expense while it focuses on the one thing that matters most- Maya getting better!
Diagnosis and Prognosis/Medical Details
As many of you know, Maya is at Boston Children's Hospital undergoing treatment for B type Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (BALL or more commonly ALL).
• It's the most common type of leukemia found in children and has a very successful remission rate. (90%)
• At Maya's age, treatment is aggressive. Thankfully, Boston Children's is the best place in the world to receive this treatment.
• Treatment will run about two years.
• Maya will be at Boston Children's Hospital until early June. She will then receive inpatient/outpatient treatment at The Dana Farber Research Center right next door to Children's. The length of her stays over the next two years will be determined by a variety of medical factors. Stays could be as short as 2 weeks or they could run longer. Hopefully, as time goes on, Maya will only need to be there a few days at a time.
Part II
Maya has enjoyed an awesome first chapter of her life. Although the second chapter has begun with adversity, we have no doubt that she will tackle this as she has everything else, with success.
With faith, hope and healing, Maya is going to enjoy a future unlike any other. She will one day be able to share with others the lessons learned from this ordeal and remind them that- with tenacity, time and faith- no obstacle is too great, no burden too heavy and no prayer too simple to remain unanswered.
Thank you for clasping hands with the Rubio Family as we march toward the finish line of health and healing. #PrayersForPapaya
Organizer and beneficiary
Stephanie Chick Bolduc
Organizer
Dover, NH
Kelsey Rubio
Beneficiary