Hello! My name is Rachel, mother to a wonderful 14-year-old son named Lucas. In the beginning of August 2024, just a couple of weeks before his 13th birthday, Lucas was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Many hospital stays and bumps in the road later, I'm happy to say Lucas is currently cancer-free! He's still undergoing treatments and has had other setbacks during his journey. In November of 2025, he had to have an emergency appendectomy, which resulted in an extended hospital stay because his immune system is suppressed due to the medication to treat leukemia. He also spent another week in the hospital at the end of February this year fighting off pneumonia and rhinovirus.

I'm a full-time manager for a fast food restaurant, and while my job has been understanding with my needing time off to care for him, it has landed my family in a significant financial hole. The hospital is almost 3 hours away, so every trip and stay requires funds that would normally go towards bills like heating and rent. The state says we are about $100 a month over the income limit for food assistance, so that is also a major concern.

It's all finally caught up to us and I'm currently facing eviction. I'm terrified of what that will look like for Lucas with his many medical concerns. He's fought so hard to get better, and it feels like I'm failing him because there's just never enough money to provide the things he needs and deserves. We couldn't even have a real celebration for his birthday or Christmas last year.

I'm searching for any kind of lifeline in the worst possible moment of our lives. I know there are a lot of families and people struggling in the world, so if by some chance mine is the one you choose to help, please know we will be eternally grateful, and I will spend my days looking for ways to pay your kindness forward the minute I am able. Thank you!