Never in a million years did I think I would be writing something like this for my sister Cynthia, my brother-in-law Luke, and sweet niece Kaylee.

Kaylee is 11 years old, and just days ago, her world—and her family’s—was turned upside down. Kaylee was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer, and she started chemotherapy today. There was no warning. In the space of a few days, everything about the Machado family’s life changed. Cynthia and Luke, Kaylee’s parents, are doing what any parents would: pouring everything into Kaylee while still showing up for her siblings, Alexis (13) and Jackson (6), who need their parents too and don’t fully understand why the house feels different.

The road ahead is long. This is a year of intensive treatment, not a few weeks. There will be hospital stays, hard stretches where Kaylee can’t be around other kids, and a lot of sixth grade she won’t get back. The family is facing overwhelming medical bills, lost wages as Cynthia and Luke provide caregiving, and extra expenses to retrofit their home for Kaylee’s safety as her immune system becomes compromised. The ordinary parts of life don’t pause for any of it.

Kaylee is tough, but no 11-year-old should have to be this tough. Everything feels overwhelming, heartbreaking, and uncertain, and their entire focus right now needs to be on getting Kaylee through this. As they navigate appointments, hospital stays, surgeries, treatments, and time away from work, we are asking for prayers and support in any way possible.

This fundraiser is a way for the people who love the Machado’s, and for the extended community who’ve never met them, to take some of that weight off. Every donation will go toward medical expenses, lost income, and helping ease the burden on their family while they fight for Kaylee. If you can give, please give. If you can’t financially, we are establishing other ways you can help like donating your time. You can find more info and options at http://helpkaylee.org.

More than anything, we are asking everyone to pray for her. Pray for complete healing, strength, peace, and comfort for Kaylee, the Machado family, and for all of us walking through this beside her.