Supporting Mateo Garcia and Family

Hello, my name is Lauren and I have started this fundraiser in support of our dear friend Mateo and his family.

Mateo started to not feel well in October, around the time we celebrated his 6th birthday. After a couple weeks of doctor's visits and various treatments, blood work lead to more tests that finally gave Mateo's family the answer they were looking for but not expecting. Mateo was diagnosed with a rare leukemia called Acute Myeloid Leukemia. This type of leukemia is most common in men over 65 so it is very rare for someone so young to have it. In fact, only about 500 children are diagnosed with AML every year.

Mateo started chemotherapy immediately following his diagnosis.

How do I best describe Mateo? Simply put, he is an angel here on earth. Mateo is the sweetest, kindest and purest little boy I have ever met. He makes my children better humans when they are around him. He enjoys playing soccer, learning gymnastics with his cheerleader older sister, playing Pokémon with his older brother and laughing and playing with all of his friends at school. Mateo has the cutest smile and most infectious laugh. He is incredibly empathetic and loving towards all of his friends and family, a natural caretaker and "an all around great kid", as my husband would say.

As mentioned, Mateo has two older siblings. His brother is in Middle School and his sister is in High School. Mateo’s parents are juggling work, supporting their baby as he battles cancer while also being present for their other two children. Our goal is to help support the Garcia family during this unimaginable time so that they can focus on getting their baby healthy. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for taking the time to read Mateo’s story and for considering helping this precious family.

I would also like to share a more personal story about Mateo and the impact he has had on our own family.

We have two young boys and our oldest son, Arthur, and Mateo are the definition of best friend soulmates.

Arthur and Mateo first met at daycare when they were just 1 years old. They were inseparable from the very start. During Covid, we lost touch with Mateo and kept our circle small and our boys with us at home, as most people did. Over a year later, we decided it was time to re-enter the glorious world of daycare, this time at a new school. As fate would have it, Mateo and Arthur found themselves back in the same room together. Now three years old, they did not remember their buddy from before, but immediately became attached at the hip again. Over the last three years, the bond that Arthur and Mateo have is deeper and stronger than ever. Arthur loves his best friend with all his heart and wants to help him and his family in any way that he can, as do my husband and myself.

The friendship Arthur and Mateo have is as rare as a 6-year-old diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Our family has been blessed ever since Mateo came into our lives. Thank you for your love, support and prayers for our sweet Mateo.