Support Ivory's Leukemia Fight & Family Needs

Diplomat Middle School is coming together to help one of our students and his family. The family has been through more in the past four months than one family should have to endure. When Hurricane Milton hit in October, the family had to evacuate. They made it out safely but their home and everything in it was lost. They have since been living in a hotel while trying to rebuild. A few days before Christmas the children started to get sick. On Christmas day, their 3-year-old daughter, Ivory, began to worsen. When her fever would not break, they took her to the emergency room. After running some tests and instructing the family to keep her hydrated and continue with Tylenol, they sent her home. The next day the family received a call that Ivory's tests came back positive for Influenza A. They were assured that it was common and should go away in 5-7 days. However, Ivory was not improving. She started having difficulty breathing and was taken back to the emergency room. There, they ran more tests, labs and X-rays. The doctor told the family that Ivory appeared to have Pneumonia but more concerning was her low blood count. They admitted her to the hospital. She was soon moved to the ICU where doctors told the family that if she did not receive a blood transfusion within the hour, she would die. The next day they were referred to an oncologist and a bone marrow biopsy was performed. The results confirmed every parent’s worst fear- Ivory had Leukemia. The family was scared and confused. It was only supposed to be the flu. While coming to terms with this diagnosis, Ivory's mother was 9 months pregnant and nearing delivery. While in the hospital with Ivory, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Although this was a blessing to the family, it has brought on new challenges. The newborn baby has not seen the outside of a hospital since coming into this world, while he and his mother remain at Ivory's side. The family is doing everything they can to remain positive and stay strong. But it is going to be an uphill battle. Ivory remains in the hospital and will be receiving treatment for at least the next three years. Please consider donating to this deserving family during this incredibly difficult time. All donations are going directly to the family for medical expenses, furnishing their new home, and other financial needs related to the care of their children.