Hello, my name is Liz. Last year, our family would constantly bother my sister, Rachael, to see a doctor about a mole on her neck. Since our oldest sister had Melanoma and our father passed away in 2016 from brain cancer (Glioblastoma), it was important to our family to be cautious. Rachael went to the doctors to have the mole evaluated. The biopsy came back as Melanoma. This was terrifying to hear but we were very optimistic because we knew there could be a good chance it didn't spread and could easily be removed.

When the doctors performed further tests, something we never expected happened. Rachael was no longer battling just one cancer. She would be admitted to the hospital right away because she was also battling Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

About My Sister:

Rachael is a stay-at-home mom who homeschools her 9-year-old son and her 6-year-old daughter. She is happily married to her husband Clay. Her husband and children are absolutely the nicest people you could ever meet.

Rachael hasn't had the easiest life. When Rachael was 4 years old, she was run over by a car with life-threatening injuries. When she was 5 years old, she had to get 9 hours of surgery to repair her damaged pelvis.

In 2010, she married her husband and a few years later they had their first child.

He was born pre-maturely, only weighing 3lbs and had multiple birth defects. Rachael spent years in and out of the hospital desperately trying to save her son's life.

Even in the hardest of times, Rachael always reached out to help anyone in need. At one point, while my husband at the time was stationed in Fort Hood, my sister helped donate baby supplies to help me financially when I was pregnant with my first child.

The Current Situation:

Rachael started Chemotherapy right away. The goal was to get her into remission and remove the Melanoma for her to get a stem cell transplant. Rachael was blessed with several 100% matches, and we were extremely happy for my sister. However, in December, the AML developed a very aggressive mutation. The chemotherapy has failed to get her into remission. Rachael had the Melanoma removed and confirmed it didn't spread but now she must fight against this aggressive AML mutation. Rachael was accepted to MD Anderson's clinical trials in Houston, Texas. This hospital is 5 to 6 hours away from her husband, her children and everyone she loves dearly.

How the Funds will be used:

I know Rachael would never ask for financial assistance. However, I strongly believe that mental health is extremely important to help fight cancer. I hope to help raise funds to help with medical expenses and help aid with her family’s travel expenses. Her kids mean the world to her. I would like to make sure her family has the finances to stay close to her hospital and support her through this battle.

Rachael and her family have a strong faith in God. If God puts it in your heart to help financially and/or with prayer, please help wherever you are able. Our trust is in the Lord.