Support Skye Through Ely's Cancer Treatment

Ely Cordaway was first diagnosed with Leukemia 14 years ago when he was just 3 years old. He underwent treatment for the next 9 years, and by age 12 he was cancer free. Until last week. Ely started experiencing some concerning symptoms, and he and his Mom, Skye, faced their greatest fears. They found themselves back in the halls of Doernbecher Children’s hospital where they learned his cancer had returned. It is hard to imagine the challenges they now face.

Skye is a single Mom who supports her family single-handedly, often holding down two or even three part time jobs to make ends meet. Ely’s twin brother, Ethyn, is a junior in high school this year. If you’ve parented a teen, you know what an important time of life that is for a family. And Skye is now faced with the challenges of navigating Ely’s diagnosis and treatment, alongside the need to provide Ethyn with the support he needs. But Skye is special. She has done it before, and she will do it again.

For those of you who know Skye, you know that she’s the first person you can call if you’re in trouble. You also know that she will never ask for help. That’s why we are asking for her. While much of the cost of Ely’s medical care will be covered by the Oregon Health Plan, the financial stress of keeping up with even basic expenses like rent, gas and groceries can be overwhelming. The complex nature of Ely’s cancer also means there may be travel required for treatment, and even with insurance there will still be significant out-of-pocket medical expenses. That’s where we can help. Please donate to support Skye and her family. Every donation, no matter how small, can make a difference.

(Thanks to all who have donated so far. At the request of GoFundMe I am updating this story to make sure everyone knows that I am collecting the donated funds, then immediately transferring 100% of them to Skye through Venmo. Skye has requested that I help with managing the money flow so that she can focus her attention on her family)