Support Melanie's Fight Against Leukemia

This is Melanie Leigh Faye Zimmerman, she is 3 years old. She was born with Down Syndrome, Trisomy 21, and diagnosed with leukemia. After a stay in the NICU, she finally went home to meet her brother Steven, big sister Jasmine, dog Mr. Snoopy, cats Mr. Cheddar, Miss Pretties, Mr. Gary, and her own kitty Lil Effer, that kitten is crazy as hell. They said she wouldn't do this or be that, but she's defied odds at every turn. If you live in the Warroad area in Minnesota, then you've seen Miss Melanie, feet propped up on the tray of her stroller, with her driver pushing her along, day or night, glow sticks at night, safety first. She brings a smile to everyone they pass or come in contact with; she has a way with people.

Melanie is in Early Learning, PT & OT, and Head Start. She turned 3 on 9-23. She started attending school by riding the bus, which she enjoys after dad isn't watching because everything is torture if dad will stop it. One day, Lil Melly Belly quit walking. After a day of this, dad called the school and talked with Early Learning and then took her in. At the clinic, we were ignored and things were assumed. X-rays were taken only after dad got the school involved. After 3 visits to the clinic, no answers, so we went for a second opinion. X-rays showed a possible fracture of her ankle, but there was something else, and we needed to go to Bemidji right away. As we were getting ready to head to Bemidji, we were told Bemidji sent us to Fargo, ND to the Sanford Children's Hospital for the weekend. We got here and within an hour, she was diagnosed with leukemia. By the end of that first day, Melanie endured 14 attempts to get a blood test, 5 transfusions to give her enough blood for chemo, a spinal tap, and a bone marrow biopsy where they were unsuccessful at getting a sample, so they took bone.

The family needs help. Their car's engine blew up, they are living out of Melanie's hospital room like a bad, really small apartment, and the older kids are back home trying to survive without mom and dad, who need help. Melanie needs help, so please, help them out. Melanie has up to 2 and a half years of treatments. They will be going 4 hours one way, for up to a month at a time, having to stay in Fargo, ND, sometimes going back and forth. These are desperate times for the family. Thank you for your time.