On August 24, 2017, five-year-old Rachel Faith Flaherty was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).  A Kindergarten student, Rachel was looking forward to continuing with ballet and tap classes in the fall, as well as participating in science, art, and phys ed classes through the local homeschooling co-op.  Over the course of that summer, however, Rachel began to experience increasing weakness, instability, and weight loss.  Blood work taken for concern of a gastrointestinal issue quickly led to a referral to the hematology/oncology team at the New England Children’s Cancer Program.  She spent 10 days in late-August and early-September at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital, where she began what will be a 2+ year treatment plan.  We cannot thank the staff at both of these institutions enough for the consistent kindness and patience they have shown, nor the physicians for the time they have dedicated to research, as well as the careful and deliberate ways they have sought to help little Rachel understand the disease she is fighting.

Treatment of this particular form of cancer has come a very long way in the past couple of decades. Rachel’s prognosis is quite good, and she is now able to undergo much of her treatment at home, though she still has a long road ahead of her.  Her home nurse, Christina, has been an excellent source of encouragement and guidance not only to Rachel, but also to Tim and Stephanie, her parents, as they seek to meet her physical, emotional, spiritual, and academic needs during this unpredictable process.

Although Tim & Stevi have been blessed with stable work, there is nothing that can prepare a family for the unexpected high medical bills that come along with all of the treatment and service that Rachel needs for the next 2+ years.  Your donation, no matter how seemingly small, can mean everything to a family in need.

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Hope. Courage. Strength. Rachel Faith.