Technically speaking, I'm terrific with words. Putting pen to paper has long been a talent of mine - one that I've nourished and flourished and loved. It's with great humility and slight desperation that I must admit I am at a loss. My mind cannot find the words, and my hands cannot write them. It has taken me nine minutes to write these four sentences. Five? Alas, earwax.

For my friends and family, I will try to be succinct.

This past Thursday, only two weeks after her sixth birthday, my niece was airlifted to Riley Hospital for Children. She was fatigue. Bruised. Severely anemic. She received a blood and platelets and underwent a bone marrow aspiration. It did not take long to receive a diagnosis - Isabella has B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, an aggressive cancer of the blood.

In these last few days, Isabella has undergone surgery for port placement, received her first chemo treatment, and developed a staph infection in her blood. She has been in the hospital for one week, and she will be there for two more. From what I understand, she will need to visit the hospital weekly for the next year for continued chemotherapy treatment, and every month for the following year (or two).

My sister and I (the other one) (the other other one) (the second one?) (there are too many to count, I know) are asking for support for my sister (the first one) and her family through this incredibly overwhelming, exhausting, heartbreaking time. We've created this campaign to assist with medical, travel, and treatment expenses.

~Jessie