On Sunday morning, my sweet 4-year-old niece, Tristan, who had been happily running and playing just the day before, suddenly began struggling to breathe. Her grandmother—a nurse—was called to check on her. When she arrived, Tristan’s condition was critical. She was pale, gasping for air, and her lung sounds were alarming. Without hesitation, Grandma called 911.

Tristan was rushed to St. Luke’s Hospital, where a team of doctors and nurses fought to save her life. She was immediately placed on a ventilator to help her breathe. It was a terrifying and heartbreaking moment for our family, as her parents rushed to be by her side as quickly as possible.

Now in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), Tristan has made progress and is off the ventilator, but she is still struggling. She remains weak, battling severe pneumonia and the flu, and is experiencing delirium from lack of sleep.

As Tristan fights to heal, my sister and brother-in-law are facing immense emotional and financial stress.

I am organizing this fundraiser because I know they would never ask for help themselves. They are the kind of people who always show up for others, and now it’s our turn to show up for them. My goal is to ease their financial burden so they can focus entirely on being with Tristan.

Any contribution, big or small, will make a difference and help them through this incredibly difficult time. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your love, support, and generosity.