January 28, 2026

This fundraiser has been organized by family, friends and colleagues to support Marlowe and his family during an incredibly difficult time.

All children are special, but Marlowe is a particularly magical 7-year-old. Marlowe has an incredible imagination and a bright, creative mind, full of questions and joy for life. He loves art and music, being silly with friends, all things Wicked, and most recently, he’s gotten into 90’s grunge. He is beloved by his friends and community for of his kindness and infectious enthusiasm.

In early January, Marlowe was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a rare childhood cancer. A mass in his chest has been compressing his airway, requiring care in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Because of this, doctors have had to proceed cautiously, taking treatment day by day. This has been a life altering and deeply challenging time for Marlowe, his family, and all those who love him...but especially for Marlowe, who won't be able to attend school for at least the remainder of the year and likely into next as he receives treatment.

There has been some hopeful progress—the steroids have been working, and the mass has continued to shrink. As a result, Marlowe was able to begin chemotherapy, which he has tolerated well so far, and he has now been transferred to the oncology unit for the next phase of his treatment.

Marlowe’s parents, Melanie and Ben, are both deeply invested in caring for others in their community. Melanie is a Registered Midwife, and Ben works at a non-profit organization helping people with diverse abilities find meaningful employment. While navigating Marlowe’s care, they are also doing everything they can to ensure their daughter, Neko, aged 5, feels safe, supported, and deeply loved during this challenging time.

Through it all, Marlowe has shown remarkable resilience. Music has continued to be a bright spot during long hospital days, especially when shredding on the electric guitar with the hospital’s music therapy team; a source of comfort, joy, and normalcy when he needs it most.

The road ahead is long - his doctors estimate that Marlowe could potentially be in treatment for years. However, once Marlowe gets through these early weeks, his prognosis is hopeful. In the meantime, Melanie and Ben are facing the emotional and financial strain of extended hospital stays, ongoing daily expenses, and being unable to return to work for the foreseeable future. Adding to the financial strain, is that as a Midwife, Melanie is also ineligible for caregiver benefits adding significant stress to an already difficult time.

This fundraiser is meant to ease that burden, allowing Melanie and Ben to be present and focus fully on Marlowe’s healing and their family’s well-being over the coming year, to find slices of joy on good days, and be able to hopefully move forward as a family without additional long-term hardship.

While we cannot change the enormity of their situation, we can offer support, uphold them, and lend strength in this way. Any donation or share, no matter the size, is deeply appreciated. Thank you for holding this family with such care, compassion, and love.