Miles of Love for Sofie

Help Sofie Get the Medical Care She Deserves

Fueling a 10-year-old’s journey to healing — with love, art, animals, and your support

Hi everyone,

My name is Ty Merrick, and I'm reaching out on behalf of my brave, funny, and fiercely creative 10-year-old daughter, Sofie. She’s an animal lover, an artist, a daydreamer, and a fighter — and right now, she’s facing some incredibly hard battles for her health.

Sofie lives with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1), a complex genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on her nerves, leading to a long list of medical challenges. On top of that, she’s also struggling with ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) — a severe eating disorder that goes far beyond picky eating. It affects her ability to eat enough to grow, thrive, and feel well. These conditions make daily life hard for Sofie, and getting her the specialized care she needs has become urgent.

The closest specialists are 4 hours away. Sofie’s medical team includes experts in neurology, gastroenterology, feeding therapy, and psychology — but the closest facility with the right specialists is over 4 hours away from our home. Every visit means taking time off work, driving long hours, paying for gas, meals, and sometimes overnight stays.

As you can imagine, the costs are adding up fast. Insurance doesn't cover everything — and it certainly doesn't cover travel, food, or lodging. Her mother had to quit her job to take care of Sofies medical and dietary needs. That’s why we’re asking for your help.

What Your Donation Will Support:

Travel to and from Sofie’s out-of-town medical appointments

Overnight stays when appointments are early or multiple days

Meals and supplies needed for road trips

Uncovered medical expenses related to feeding therapy and NF1 management

Mental health support for Sofie as she navigates a very grown-up struggle in a little body

Who is Sofie?

Sofie is kind, silly, wildly imaginative, and stronger than most grownups we know. She loves drawing, cuddling with animals, and learning everything she can about the world. She dreams of becoming a wildlife vet or an artist (or both!) and she lights up any room she enters. But right now, her world is full of doctors, anxiety, and physical pain.

We want Sofie to be a kid again, to laugh, play, eat without fear, and look forward to life. Your donation, no matter how small, brings us closer to that goal.

How You Can Help:

Donate if you can, every single dollar truly helps.

Share this fundraiser on social media.

Keep Sofie in your thoughts and prayers.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. Your support means more than we can say. You're helping carry our girl through the hardest miles of her journey — and giving her hope, healing, and the strength to keep going.

With gratitude,

Ty, Sofie and the entire Merrick family