Hi, my name is Heather and one of my very best friends, her husband and their sweet baby girl need your help.

Nicki and Chris welcomed their beautiful, healthy baby girl into this world on July 16, 2021, sharing her birthday with her mama. It was the most special birthday gift for Nicki. The first two months of Riley's life were picture perfect, until one day everything changed.

About 5 weeks ago Nicki noticed a small lump on Riley’s head and a few small purple lesions all over her back. After taking her to the pediatrician twice to figure out what it was Nicki was finally rushed in with a dermatologist who did a skin biopsy. Those results came back showing abnormal cells, to which they were referred to the John’s Hopkins pediatric oncology team and their pathologist completed further testing of that skin biopsy leading them to the diagnosis of myeloid sarcoma. Riley then had to have a bone marrow biopsy to see if she had leukemia as myeloid sarcoma is typically linked with leukemia. Her initial results all came back not showing any traces of cancer cells so Nicki and Chris thought Riley was in the clear. However their happy news quickly turned into words that no parent ever wants to hear, their sweet 3 month old baby girl has acute myeloid leukemia.

Riley was admitted to the pediatric oncology unit at Hopkins yesterday (10/13/21) and had a central line placed today (10/14/21) as well as another bone marrow biopsy done. She will start her first round of chemo within the next few days. Her treatment will either consist of 4-5 rounds of chemo or 3 rounds of chemo and a bone marrow transplant. Each round of chemo will be about a week and she will need to remain in the hospital for 3-4 weeks following each round of chemo to monitor her closely.

No parent can prepare for the news that Nicki and Chris have received and the journey their lives have now brought them to face. As Nicki and Chris will be spending most of their time at the hospital with Riley, this Go Fund Me will hopefully help eliminate some of the financial burden that comes their way. Nicki and Chris deserve to be able to focus solely on their baby girl's health, treatment and recovery. All donations are appreciated.