Raylon’s Story Foundation

Raylon is a bright-eyed, joyful baby boy with the sweetest smile — a light in our lives and in every room he enters. But behind his sunshine spirit is a story no child should ever have to live through.

At just 2 weeks old, Raylon was diagnosed with two rare and life-altering conditions: an infantile high-grade glioma (a rare brain tumor) and diabetes insipidus. We were blindsided. What followed was a whirlwind of medical emergencies, hospital stays, and devastating discoveries. The removal of Raylon’s tumor led to seizures and a diagnosis of hydrocephalus, which required a shunt placement — all before our baby even reached 4 months of age.

We spent over a month in the hospital after the tumor was found, with no idea when we’d be able to go home — or what “normal” would look like again.

Now, our weeks are filled with multiple doctor’s appointments. Raylon is under the care of a wide team: neurosurgery, neurology, endocrinology, hematology/oncology, nephrology, and physical therapy. Each one prepares us for a long journey ahead — one that will include many hospital stays, more treatments, and an uncertain road.

But through all of this, we’ve made a choice: not to let this story be only one of hardship.

We believe there’s purpose in our pain — and we want to use Raylon’s journey to help other families who are fighting similar battles.

Our dream is to start a nonprofit organization that provides support to families with children diagnosed with rare or life-threatening conditions. So many parents are faced with impossible choices — between medical bills and everyday necessities, between being present at the hospital or keeping their jobs. Some treatments aren’t fully covered by insurance, and many families simply can’t afford the help their child desperately needs.

We want to change that.

But we can’t do it alone. We’re asking for your help to bring this vision to life.

Your donation will go directly toward launching this nonprofit — from filing the legal paperwork to building a sustainable fund that can provide financial relief, advocacy, and emotional support for families who are walking the same path we are.

Raylon may have been dealt a difficult hand, but through him, we hope to build something beautiful — something that turns heartbreak into hope.

Thank you for standing with us. For Raylon. For other children like him. And for the families who need a little light in their darkest moments.

With gratitude,

Raylon’s Parents Mikiya Anderson and Raymond Withers