My sister and brother-in-law, Wren and Phil Dante, just learned that their daughter, Rose, has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia called T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or T-Cell ALL. She just began treatment at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, FL. As you can imagine, these first few days put everyone into shock. I am devastated with them.

Rose is a 22 year old college student who would be entering her 4th year of early childhood education with the plan of being a kindergarten teacher. She loves animals, kids, her family and is extremely witty. All of us love Rose’s sense of humor and her willingness to serve where she can. She has a childlike heart and is a loyal friend.

Imagine being a teacher. One of the most important and undervalued jobs in our society. You probably had a favorite teacher, one that made a difference in your life. They spend their life pouring into the lives of others. My sister Wren is one of those teachers. She has been a middle school science teacher for 21 years. She has good benefits, but not the kind of benefits that can allow her to take weeks at a time off of work while her daughter undergoes treatment for Leukemia.

Besides processing this news, Wren is navigating how she can take off work to be with Rose as much as possible. It’s a difficult situation that is only complicated by limited resources. At age 22, Rose is one year too old to apply for St. Jude’s financial assistance. My brother-in-law, Phil, has been ministering to kids and youth for the last 30 years. He doesn’t have a robust benefits package or salary to draw from. Wren’s health insurance from her teaching is their primary form of health insurance.

Wren begins the school year with only 3 sick days, as more leave days are earned month by month totaling 10 for the year. She is going to take as much time off as possible to be with Rose in Tampa, which is 90 minutes away, however, she will have to work intermittently in order to keep their benefits. The hospital bills from this last month are already coming in. Wren and Phil also have four other children, three of whom are in college. Yes, it’s a lot.

No mother should have to have the stress of wondering if she can be with her child while she is facing one of the most difficult challenges of her life. As Wren’s sister and Rose’s aunt, I would love some, if not all, of this financial burden to be off of their plate. At this point, we don’t know what Rose’s treatment entails. We’ve been told it may take months.

This is just the beginning for all of us. I am asking you to be a part of this journey. Not just for Rose, but for the entire Dante family. Any amount you can give is greatly appreciated. Any…even some now and some later. I thank you all in advance. We will keep you all updated so you know how to be praying as well. Thanks again. Kara

2 Corinthians 4:8-10

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”