Help Support Megan’s Fight Against AML

This is Megan, our spunky and fearless 7-year-old niece. She’s strong, silly, full of personality, and loved beyond measure.

One week before Thanksgiving, our family’s world turned upside down when Megan was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). She was first admitted to Morristown Medical Center, where initial testing and diagnosis took place. Soon after, she was transferred to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) so she could receive the very best care possible with world-class specialists, leading treatment protocols, and the focused expertise and support she needs. While CHOP is two hours from home, we are grateful she is exactly where she needs to be to heal and thrive.

This diagnosis comes at the heels of 1.5 years of unexpected losses for our family, yet we remain hopeful; Megan’s resilience, sense of humor, and the way she finds moments to smile and laugh remind us every day that she is fighting with everything she has.

Megan just completed her first round of chemotherapy, which she handled with incredible bravery. We are staying positive and hoping she’ll be home by Christmas or shortly after. Her current treatment plan includes two more rounds of in-patient chemo and a bone marrow transplant.

To keep life as grounded and stable as possible, Megan’s mom and dad (Erin & Mike) have been alternating weeks and weekends at the hospital, making sure her two siblings back home get the attention, comfort, and normalcy they deserve. It’s a lot to juggle, but they’re doing it with love and determination.

We’ve created this GoFundMe to help ease the financial strain of out-of-network care, travel, time away from work, and the many costs that come with navigating this diagnosis. Our hope is to give Erin & Mike the space to focus fully on their children and on Megan’s care.

If you are able, please consider donating; every contribution, big or small, brings relief and hope. And if you cannot give financially, sharing this page or keeping Megan in your thoughts and prayers means the world to us.

With your help, love, and prayers, we are confident she will overcome this.

With much love,

The Coughlin and Stitz Families

(If you would like to donate directly, please email us by scrolling down and clicking "Contact" below)