Willows journey through Leukemia

Alex and Kendra Dade and their twelve-year-old daughter, Haley, couldn't have been happier to bring little Willow into the world ten months ago. Willow, long-awaited and welcomed into the loving arms of her parents, big sister, grandparents, and many friends, is a bright and happy ten-month-old. Typically content at home with her family, Willow has dealt with stranger anxiety in her short life, so these next few weeks might be even more challenging.
Like most ten-month-old babies do, Willow has been teething. Instead of showing off her new pearly whites, Willow developed a pesky fever that wouldn't break, a rash spread across her skin, and as her fussiness increased, Willow's irritated skin started to turn yellow. At this point, teething could no longer be blamed and Willow's parents, Kendra and Alex, took Willow to Urgent Care. After some bloodwork and a trip from Urgent Care to Phoenix Children's Hospital in Phoenix, sweet Willow was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.
Phoenix Children's is where Willow and her parents will now live for a minimum of five weeks. So far, Willow has received a blood transfusion, a lumbar puncture, bone marrow biopsies, and had her anxieties toward strangers challenged more than once. Because Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia is a cancer of the blood, Willow has also started chemotherapy. She will have a minimum of two years of chemo to help treat the cancer. The first few treatments will be pretty intense, and Willow may face some disheartening side effects during this time.
None of this will be easy for Willow's family, but the financial burden may be right up there with the emotional instability that comes with dealing with cancer. Willow has insurance now, and Alex has a job with a company who is taking care of future insurance for the family. But, as so many families face insured and not insured, the out of pocket expenses that come with such a diagnosis carried a heavy financial burden and fear. It would be wonderful if we could all help lessen that fear and pitch in a bit to help not only with these out of pocket medical expenses that will arise with a minimum five week hospital stay and at least two years of medical care and chemotherapy to come but also with food while Willow's dedicated mom and dad stay at the hospital, with gas money to get Alex to and from Phoenix from their home in Gilbert, and with help for their older daughter, Haley.
This journey is not an easy one, and so much of it is out of Alex and Kendra's control. In times of strife, we hold on tight to the things we can control. The stress of having a child diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia is a lot to carry. Worrying about whether or not there is enough gas in the car to get to the hospital or enough cash in a wallet to buy hospital food dinner or a cup of coffee or bottle of water while waiting for their baby to come back to them after yet another procedure, after a chemo treatment, or after more blood draws are not things anyone should have to worry about. Paying typical household bills on top of hospital bills is stressful. Having a child at home with loving family who can help while living at the hospital with the baby is hard. Fighting cancer is hard.  The one place where we could gain the slightest amount of control is helping Alex and Kendra with simple things. Every little bit counts. It might buy that one bottle of water or cup of coffee needed after a night spent awake. It might help pay a deductible or co-pay. Imagine the mounds of medical bills that will begin to pile up for this sweet family who is known for never asking for anything and still having to fight the disease.
If you can, anything you can offer is much appreciated. We will be offering updates as we have them but want to say thank you in advance. Troubling times calls for a community to come together. It's what we do. Come together, and through positive energy, prayer, and even a bit of financial assistance, help us build up Baby Willow and her family as they start a journey none should have to travel.