Maleek’s Journey Home

This is Maleek. He is a 15 year old energetic young boy who loves to dance and play sports with his siblings and friends. Maleek attends NYC LaGuardia High School for Music and Performing Arts, where he pursues classical dance training. He also plays basketball as he comes from a family of athletes. Maleek lives with his mom, dad, and three siblings. He is a middle child with an older brother and two younger sisters.

Maleek recently began to experience stomach pain and what was thought to be growing pains or residual aches and pains from his athletic lifestyle and workouts. Unfortunately, a trip to the emergency room, along with some follow-up doctor visits, revealed to be a diagnosis of stomach cancer.

As anyone can imagine, this diagnosis came as a heartbreaking shock to Maleek and his parents. Maleek's parents are trying to process this information while simultaneously being the strength and support that he is going to need as they embark on this journey of healing, cancer treatment and hospital stays for their baby boy. Not to mention breaking this unfortunate news to his three siblings. All while still trying to hold on to their faith and keep strong themselves.

Since Maleek was diagnosed with cancer, he has been in the hospital facing this health challenge. His mother stays by his side all day, and his father sleeps at the hospital at night so that Maleek always has someone by his side and does not have to feel alone.

This journey to recovery has already begun to take a toll on Maleek's family. As all of the children are still school-age, Maleek's parents have been trying their best to raise and care for their other three children while also being there for Maleek as he undergoes a multitude of tests and treatment. Maleek's family is realizing that this unfortunate diagnosis is only the beginning of their problems. Since someone needs to be with Maleek constantly to speak with the medical staff regarding his course of treatment, his parents

have had to lean on family and friends to support them with the other children. Getting them to and from school, cooking meals, or just staying with them while the parents commute to and from the hospital.

At this time, Maleek's dad is the only income for the family, and his mom is a stay at home mom who cares for the children full time. Needless to say, these circumstances have put a strain on the family since dad has to spend nights at the hospital and work during the day sometimes having to miss work to be with his son, and mom is not able to be with the other children as she normally is because she has to be with Maleek at the hospital while dad is at work. Expenses begin to add up quickly when you have to commute to and from a hospital every day as well as buy meals while your out or for dinner for the family because your too exhausted to cook or just haven't been able to go food shopping because you've been at the hospital everyday.

So we are asking for your support for this family. We ask for your prayers that go a long way, your services, if you are able to help them out in any way, and your donations of any amount are greatly appreciated. Living in NYC is very expensive on its own. So when you consider an unfortunate situation such as the one that Maleek and his family are facing and the cost of transportation/gas, food and many other expenses foreseen and unforeseen associated with a child being diagnosed with cancer it becomes a hardship. This process has extended beyond their financial means and will become more expensive as the months go on. So we want to support them as much as can.

Whatever the future holds, it is the family’s intention to surround Maleek with as much love and support as possible as they position themselves to take on the fight of their lives. This treatment can take months, which will require his parents to be with him constantly.

In support of Maleek’ Healing Journey, we invite you to support by making a donation to this

worthy cause. Your support is greatly appreciated and does more than you could ever imagine as a financial burden is a heavy burden to carry, especially when you are already going through so much.

Thank you for your donations and support.

“Love bears all things, believes all things, endures all things “. (1 Corinthians 13:7)