Four weeks ago, my family’s world changed in a way I never could have imagined.
My 7-year-old son, Noel, was airlifted to a children’s hospital in St. Petersburg after doctors discovered that he has leukemia.
Since then, life has been a whirlwind of hospital stays, treatments, traveling, and trying to make sure that Noel always has someone by his side. He has a long road ahead of him, and as his dad, all I want is to be there for him through every part of it.
Our family lives about three hours away from the hospital, so we have been traveling back and forth as much as possible to be with him. Between myself, Noel’s mom, our families, and my partner, we have been taking turns making sure someone is there.
We have stayed in hotels and Airbnbs, and we are incredibly grateful for the Ronald McDonald House and everything they have done to help families like ours. But with a three-year-old also in our care, staying in a shared facility has become difficult for us to manage long-term.
What we really need now is a temporary place in St. Petersburg where we can stay close to Noel.
There will be times when Noel is able to leave the hospital between treatments, and having a place nearby would give him somewhere comfortable to come back to while keeping him close to his medical team. More importantly, it would allow me to be close to my son without spending hours on the road every time I need to be with him.
We are asking for help raising $10,000 to give our family some stability during the next several months.
Approximately $5,000 will go toward temporary housing near the hospital, with the remaining funds helping with the everyday expenses that come with being away from home during a child’s cancer treatment—food, transportation, parking, utilities, and other unexpected costs along the way.
I never imagined I would be asking for help like this. But right now, I’m learning that sometimes you have to put your pride aside and let people who care about you show up.
If you are able to donate, any amount truly helps. And if you’re not in a position to give, sharing this fundraiser or simply keeping Noel in your thoughts means more to our family than I can put into words.
Thank you for taking the time to read about my son.
Thank you to everyone who has already prayed for Noel, checked on us, brought us food, helped us travel, or simply reminded us that we aren’t doing this alone.
Please keep my boy in your thoughts as he continues this fight. ❤️
We love you, Noel. Keep fighting.
