Support Mia and her family

Hi, my name is Rachel Evans, and I have been friends with Mia Leonard-Solis for 21 years now! I was lucky enough to be Mia's birth coach when she gave birth to the wonderful Raelen, 16 and a half years ago, and I am also Raelen's godmother.

In 2017, she was diagnosed with lymphoma. After treatment, she was in remission, until last year, when she had a recurrence. She went through chemo, kept working as she was able and by Spring, and we thought she was safely back in remission. But just a few short months later, the cancer came back much more progressed. It has spread to her liver, and she has also acquired a secondary condition from lymphoma called HLH. Her treatment now is more intensive chemo treatment, requiring in-patient care, close monitoring and then the possibility of a secondary treatment If this chemo is successful. It’s all one day at a time, and details and information gets refined daily, but that’s what we know right now. She's been in hospitals since July 25, and it’s been extremely hard on the family for all the obvious reasons but also because it’s not a close hospital and her family has a very old unreliable car that does not fit the whole family and was supposed to be replaced this summer.

Mia has 4 kids, the eldest, Raelen is 16, next is Eoin, who is 9, Aoife, who is 7, and Brigid, who soon turns 6. Tim, her partner, has been holding down the fort with the kids but Mia will have to step away from teaching for now, while she prioritizes her treatment. The strain on the family financially and time-wise, with Mia being in and out of the hospital, is just tremendous. Funds donated will be used towards childcare needs, help with any unexpected medical or other expenses and general support as Mia and her family trudge through this tough time.

The real suckie thing about cancer is it seems to pick the best people. None of this is ever fair, but it seems especially unfair that my dear friend has to be going through this. Mia is a gem among gems. She is an amazing friend, mother, daughter, partner, sister, teacher, and much more. She is smart, enigmatic, creative, soulful, kind, the works! She is endlessly positive, even in the face of the many challenges and hardships that cancer has brought her.