Our beloved sister Leila, 29 years old, was recently diagnosed with stage 3 Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a form of blood cancer. On December 14, 2024, her birthday, she was admitted to Cook County Hospital, where she spent the next several days and awaited a biopsy of her lymph nodes. While we all hoped for a different outcome, the PET scan conducted a month later confirmed her diagnosis and staging. We were in disbelief.

Despite the challenges ahead, Leila remains optimistic about her treatment journey. However, the road will be longer than anticipated, introducing a host of uncertainties and stressors. Doctors have advised that she cannot work for the next six months minimum, making it vital for her to focus entirely on her health and recovery. Leila is alone in Chicago as the majority of our family are in New York. We will both, along with our mother and other family members, be spending time over the next several months flying back and forth to Chicago to care for her.

We are reaching out to ask for your support during this difficult time so that we may offer Leila the gift of rest and her loving family present. Any financial assistance will help alleviate the stress of her worrying about her security and stability, allowing Leila to concentrate on healing. Asking for help can be daunting, but every contribution, no matter the size, will make a meaningful difference in her journey.

Our hope is to see Leila cancer-free by her birthday at the end of this year, and with your generosity, we believe this is possible. Thank you for considering supporting Leila during this challenging chapter in her life. Your kindness and compassion mean the world to us.

Thank you <3

Liv and Sara Apple Maliki