My three-year-old nephew, Camden, has Williams Syndrome—a rare genetic condition that affects the heart and requires specialized care. After two years of monitoring his heart closely, his doctors decided it was time for open-heart surgery and recommended a team at Stanford Medicine Children's Health in California known for their Williams Syndrome expertise and specialized surgical techniques. This surgery is critical for Camden's long term health and will give him the best chance at a strong and healthy future, so this May, my sister, Ali, and her family will be traveling to California.

Ali, her husband Mark, and Camden expect to travel to California initially for at least two weeks, though the timeline may extend depending on Camden’s recovery and ongoing medical needs. Mark plans to be there at the beginning to support Ali and Camden through the procedure and early stages of recovery. He will then return home to help care for Emerson and maintain his normal school routine, which may require him to miss work in order to provide stability and support.

While insurance is expected to cover the procedure itself, being away from home for an extended and uncertain period creates significant financial strain. During this time, they will be navigating lost income from missed work, travel expenses, increased food costs, and the continued responsibility of keeping up with monthly bills such as rent and utilities.

Anyone who has met Camden knows just how special he is and is the definition of joy itself. This journey has been incredibly challenging for our entire family, and I am launching this fundraiser to help ease the financial burden for Camden, Ali, Mark, and Emerson and give them the time and peace of mind to focus fully on Camden’s healing.