Zyon's rally to beat cancer

I am blessed to call Tesheka Lee one of my best friends. Anyone who knows her knows the fun spirited, kindness, hard work, and strength she exudes as a person. She is a devout follower of Jesus and mother above all else. What I have also come to learn is this isn’t an anomaly in her family; strength, hard work, determination, and kindness are traits that run deep. These qualities radiate in the unbreakable bond Tesheka and her sister Tiffany have with one another and have instilled in their daughters Wysdom and Zyon. They all share a unique connection that is unlike any other.

Befriending someone on Facebook allows you a glimpse into their lives, anyone connected with Tiffany and Tesheka are able to share in the sweet little life of Zyon. She has an adorable, fun loving, joyful sweet soul. The videos of Zyon from a young age singing, dancing, and praising the Lord bring a smile to anyone who views them. To say she is a special little girl is an understatement. She is a super hero for Christ and embodies the special qualities her mother and aunt have instilled in her. As I watch these videos I can’t help but think we can all learn from Zyon’s love for life and Jesus, it is pure and sincere.   

Not only do Tesheka and Tiffany raise their daughters together, but they do so in Chicago where life isn’t always easy and has a unique set of obstacles. I have always admired how Zyon and Wysdom are still able to be kids, their mothers have worked very hard to ensure their girls maintain their childlike innocence. Yet no matter how hard you fight as a mother to provide for and protect your children, get them the best education, and keep them from harm’s way, there is nothing that can prepare or protect your child from illness. 

Last week I received a text message from Tesheka about Zyon that rocked me to my core. I can’t begin to imagine how scared, sad, angry, every range of emotion Tiffany and Tesheka must be feeling right now. Sweet little 8 year old Zyon was taken to urgent care not feeling well and immediately sent to the ER. The next day a rigorous series of tests were run and Zyon has been diagnosed with stage 3 Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL). DLBCL is extremely aggressive form of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma Cancer.  Zyon will undergo chemo treatments at minimum over the next 5 months. Compounding this issue Tiffany is working as a contractor and in between insurance. Nothing about this is fair, it sucks, it is expensive, time consuming, and shouldn’t happen to anyone- especially an amazing God loving little girls like Zyon and an amazing mother like Tiffany. No amount of planning can prepare you for such a horrible situation. Yet in the midst of turmoil, Zyon is joyful and fearless in her faith, she believes God has already healed her! Once again she is teaching everyone around her how to love God and have faith like a mustard seed or a small child faced with a difficult uphill battle most of us couldn’t begin to handle.

No one is immune to adversities no matter how hard we work or try, it can happen in an instant, our worlds can be completely rocked and flipped on end, but it is times like this WE must show strength and rally around our friends and family. Like Zyon, I too have an amazing mother who taught me from a young age when you are faced with a situation where you can help someone in need- you do it. We never know when we will be confronted with an issue of own. Tiffany and Tesheka now find themselves in the beginning of a serious storm, an emotional rollercoaster that seems unbearable, and a financial burden many of us have never experienced. When a child is ill money should be the last thing a parent must worry about; doctor bills, travel, meals, parking, missed work; it all adds up very quickly! Thank Jesus for a website like Gofundme where we can come together and provide a blessing to our friends in need. At the end of the day it takes a village.

Now is that time. I am asking you to give, give generously, and as often as you can. No amount is too small. We need little girls like Zyon to grow up, healthy and strong to show the rest of the world how to love.


Thank you.