Oliver's Fight and a Healthy Home

Friends,

A life can change in the blink of an eye. On December 27th, a near-fatal car accident altered the course of our lives. I was lucky to survive but my recovery was long, with strict restrictions and a minimum of 8-10 weeks before I could lift more than the equivalent of a gallon of milk or even shower alone.

On February 17th, we lost our home. Chance was taking care of the boys full time, and still trying to work enough to keep us afloat, but he isn't two people.

Five days later, our world was shattered again. Oliver had been experiencing back pain for a couple of weeks. We never imagined an MRI would show our little boy had collapsed and disintegrated vertebrae, multiple masses, and a rare cancer-like disease: Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH).

"LCH affects 5 in 1 million children, most often between the ages of 1 and 3. In 2021, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network published clinical guidelines for histiocytosis classifying LCH, ECD (Erdheim-Chester disease), and RDD (Rosai Dorfman disease) as histiocytic neoplasms. LCH is considered a form of cancer with lots of inflammation-like symptoms (or inflammatory neoplasia). It is classified as a blood cancer by the World Health Organization (WHO). Some forms of LCH can be treated with chemotherapy (cancer therapies) and are treated by doctors who treat cancer patients." -histio.org

We purchased an RV that to our surprise, we can't live in, after using every penny we had. It also needed a lot of repairs and cleanup to make it safe and clean for our family. We were assured by the seller that it wouldn't have these issues, especially since they could be deadly to an immunocompromised child. However, it had mold, mildew, water damage, leaks, and a mouse problem. The damage was shockingly extensive when we removed the floor to repair the bathroom. Chance has been able to tear up the bathroom and shower area, but to do every affected area is too much for just him to handle.

We are reaching out to you today as we can't do this alone. We are a family in desperate need of assistance, of a community willing to rally around us in our time of need. Your support will provide us with the means to create a safe and clean home for our children while we navigate this challenging time.

At this time, we need an electrician to upgrade our RV's electric system from 30 amp to 50 amp and fix some existing issues. We also need someone who knows about RV plumbing. We need extra hands for manual labor and childcare while we work on the RV. We still need to buy more subflooring, more vinyl flooring, a shower, toilet, and vanity, at least. I'm currently painting the sections that didn't need to be torn down. We'll need more painting supplies and any available helpers. In addition, we need the booth cushions recovered.

If you're unable to help with the physical labor or renovations, we understand. There are other ways you can contribute. Monetary donations will go a long way towards purchasing the necessary materials and hiring professionals for the more complex tasks. No donation is too small, and every little bit helps. This will provide us with the means to create a safe and clean home for our children while we navigate this challenging time. Alternatively, if you or someone you know has expertise in RV renovations or can offer professional advice, we would be incredibly grateful. We're learning as we go and could use all the guidance we can get.

We also have an amazon list for essentials, and things to make Ollies life a little better!

In the face of adversity, it's the support and generosity of people like you that give us hope. We believe in the power of a village, and with your help, we can turn our RV into a home that's safe and comfortable for our children.

As we navigate this challenging time, we will continue to update our progress and share our journey with you. We believe that transparency is essential when asking for assistance, and we want you to see the impact of your contribution.

Once again, we thank you for taking the time to read our story and consider our plea. Your kindness and generosity mean more to us than words can express.

Thank you for your support and continued prayers for Ollie.

~The Gordon Family