September 24, 2026
Today we spotlight a true warrior 🎗 I met Raleigh right after her transplant. She was so cute, and her parents are the sweetest. She was a Taylor Swift loving girl and gave me so much hope... and still does.
Meet Rae 🫶
Raeleigh was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) on January 12, 2024. Raeleigh was initially diagnosed with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA) and began treatment for it. However, her parents fought to remain in the hospital until her fevers resolved. Raeleigh continued to have persistent fevers, and after one week in the hospital, a rheumatologist—this guy was truly a Godsend—recommended a bone marrow biopsy to rule out any underlying cancer. That morning, the provider performing the biopsy reassured us that there was a 99% chance this was not cancer. When he walked into the room that afternoon, we knew immediately. Walking to the hematology/oncology floor at 1:00 in the morning felt like walking into a movie we never wanted to see. But from that moment on, we never felt alone. So many people stepped in and surrounded Raeleigh with love, strength, and support. Raeleigh was considered high risk for relapse, so she underwent three rounds of chemotherapy followed by a bone marrow transplant. She spent approximately 140 days within the walls of a hospital. During those months, she experienced complications and side effects including mucositis, VOD, GvHD, neuropathy, and a significant decline in her motor skills. We watched our daughter reach major milestones within the walls of a hospital—learning to walk and talk. We watched her learn things no child should ever have to learn, like how to flush fluids through a central line. Somewhere along the way, we also found family. We became close with nurses and other families who were walking through similar battles. We spent countless hours with the night shift because, even in the hospital, Raeleigh was determined to be a night owl and would want to walk the hallways at 2:00 in the morning.
Raeleigh has been in remission since February 2024. Today, she is doing what we always hoped she would get the chance to do. She recently started preschool, participates in soccer and gymnastics, and is loving her newest role as a big sister. She is still very much a night owl and prefers to stay up way past her bedtime. We believe Raeleigh carries with her the memories, dreams, and strength of all the children who have gone too soon. We believe they are walking alongside her, guiding her, protecting her, and helping her find her way through this life. We carry their memories in our hearts, and we hope Raeleigh will continue to live boldly, love deeply, and make the most of the life she has been blessed with.
We love our Rae of Sunshine ☀️ 💛🧡🎗️