On June 13th, 2025, my world came crashing down. My sweet 9-year-old son, Xander, was diagnosed with Stage 3 Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that no child should ever have to face. Just days before, we were planning his birthday. Instead of cake and balloons, we were sitting in hospital rooms, hearing words no parent should ever hear.

Since then, Xander’s childhood has been replaced with surgeries, scans, ports, and procedures most adults would struggle to endure. He has faced pain, fear, and endless hospital stays, yet somehow, he still smiles. He still cracks his silly jokes. He still tries to just be a kid who loves Minecraft, Spider-Man, and laughing with his siblings. His bravery takes my breath away.

But as his mom, I see the fight behind his smile. I see the nights he’s exhausted from chemo. I see the fear in his eyes when another procedure is coming. And I carry the crushing weight of knowing this journey is just beginning. Months of chemotherapy. Radiation. Appointments that seem endless.

As if the emotional toll weren’t enough, the financial burden is staggering. I am the mother of seven children, including Xander. That means seven mouths to feed, seven sets of shoes to buy, seven growing kids who still need school supplies, clothes, and stability in the middle of chaos. Every trip to the hospital means not just gas and parking, but also childcare for the siblings waiting at home. Every missed day of work is another bill unpaid.

Because I must be by Xander’s side full-time, I am unable to work. The weight of medical bills, travel costs, and everyday expenses has been overwhelming. On top of that, we are now preparing to sell our family home, as we are facing foreclosure at the end of the year. Even though we are heartbroken to let go of the place we love, the house where so many of our memories were made, our priority is finding a rental so my children can have stability through this storm.

This is why I am reaching out. Your support means more than words can ever capture. Every donation, every prayer, every share of Xander’s story helps lighten the load for not only me, but for my entire family of nine. It allows me to focus on what truly matters: holding my son’s hand, wiping his tears, and being present for him through the hardest battle of his life, while still providing for his brothers and sisters who love him deeply and are fighting this fight alongside him.

Xander is my superhero. He is brave, he is strong, and he is fighting for his life. Please stand with us in this fight.

With all my heart,

Xander’s Mom Katelyn