Dear Members of The Madelyn James Pediatric Cancer Foundation,
I am writing this letter with a heart full of emotion and a level of gratitude that words can barely begin to express. My name is Melissa Varela, and I am the mother of William A. I want to share a piece of our story with you to let you know the profound impact your organization has had on our lives.
When my baby was born, everything seemed perfect. But at four months old, our lives completely shifted. After a frantic month of countless emergency room visits, a high fever, and a desperate search for answers, William was hospitalized. Seeing him covered in bruises from continuous vein checks before getting his PICC line placed was agonizing. We spent the entire months of November and December living inside the hospital walls, only to be discharged on New Year’s Eve with a catheter and a schedule requiring hospital visits three times a week.
During this health crisis, our financial world collapsed. Between skipping meals at the hospital and losing our home to eviction, we found ourselves on the street. My husband was completely broken, and my older children had to stay with their father temporarily while we focused entirely on our baby. We reached a point of absolute darkness with nowhere else to go until my sister opened her doors to us.
It was at that lowest moment that a hospital social worker connected us with Madelyn James. The Madelyn James Pediatric Cancer Foundation became our miracle.
Your DoorDash gift cards guaranteed that we could finally have a warm meal each day. When William was officially diagnosed with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), you stepped in as our ultimate shield. By covering our rent, helping with critical utilities, and providing essential clothes for our baby, you did not just lift an immense financial weight off our shoulders—you gave us the dignity and security to completely focus on what mattered most: saving our son’s life.
William’s medical journey is ongoing, and we continue to fight alongside his care team. However, because of your extraordinary generosity, we no longer feel like we are fighting in the dark. You brought hope back to our family precisely when we thought everything was lost.
Thank you for your kindness, your swift action, and your beautiful mission. We will remain forever grateful to everyone at your foundation.
With all our love and deepest appreciation,
Melissa Varela, Willian Sandoval, and Family
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