From our Arkansas Thunder Family to our softball friends, fans, and community:

The Garcia family is facing overwhelming medical and financial challenges, and we are coming together to support them in every way possible.

Iain (10) and Emilyn (4) no longer produce enough blood on their own due to a severe virus they contracted in February. This virus acted like “kryptonite” to their existing genetic blood disorder, causing them to become transfusion-dependent. Their condition also causes them to retain four times the normal amount of iron, placing dangerous levels of iron deposits on their organs.

Because of this, both children now need bone marrow transplants.

• The transplant process takes 6–9 months per child

• 6 weeks in the hospital (intense chemotherapy + stem cell transplant)

• 6 weeks at the Ronald McDonald House

• A minimum of 3 months at home with a severely weakened immune system

Only one child can go at a time, meaning this will be a 2+ year journey for the family.

Fortunately, their sister Bella is a perfect match for Emilyn and will be her donor when it’s Emilyn’s turn.

Iain does not currently have a match. Out of over 14 million registered donors, no viable match has been found. He will instead go through an advanced gene therapy process, where his own stem cells will be harvested, modified, and then reintroduced. Once approved, he will be the first patient in Arkansas to undergo this procedure.

• Estimated cost for Iain’s treatment: nearly $2,000,000

• Estimated cost for Emilyn’s transplant: around $500,000

• His medical team is currently battling insurance for approval

Without these transplants, their best-case life expectancy is around 30 years with a poor quality of life.

At the same time, their father Rusty has been fighting worsening symptoms—loss of movement, balance issues, numbness in his hands, and extreme pain. Doctors recently discovered he has a severely displaced vertebra in his neck, and it is essentially functioning as if his neck were broken. This is a progressive, life-threatening condition that will lead to paralysis from the neck down without surgery.

• His surgery is scheduled for December, just before Christmas

• Recovery will be long and difficult

• Earlier this week, Rusty was laid off from his job

And as if that were not enough, the children’s grandfather has just been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Paraganglioma Pheochromocytoma, connected to toxic exposure from burn pits during his service in the Army.

• A 12 x 9 cm tumor has been found on his liver and adrenal gland

• Doctors are determining spread and treatment now

• He will require radiation and possibly tumor removal surgery

This family has been hit from every direction, and the emotional, physical, and financial burden is immense.

Yet through it all, they continue to fight — for their children, for their family, and for hope.

This GoFundMe is being created to support:

• Medical bills not covered by insurance

• Travel expenses

• Long-term housing needs

• Loss of income

• Basic living expenses during treatment

Every prayer, every share, and every donation — no matter the size — makes a difference.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with the Garcia family in this fight.

— Arkansas Thunder Family