Usually, young parents have no shortage of worries to go along with the lack of sleep and the random squalling of their new addition. Caring for a newborn is stressful! But it shouldn't come with a fight for a young child's life.
Unfortunately, that's the situation one family in Alabama faces, but thankfully, it sounds like they're getting some much needed help.
Megan, David, and little Kinsley were thrown for a loop just before Kinsley's first birthday, and although it has been undeniably tough, so far they've received some incredible support. However, they still need more help.
The Huntsville, Alabama-based family soon had to travel to Children's of Alabama in Birmingham for a series of tests, scans, and X-rays that resulted in a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
And her parents, both teachers in Alabama's public schools, have been there for her as much as humanly possible.
Megan took a temporary leave from her elementary school job, and David used his sick days from his job coaching high school football to drive back and forth between Hunstville and Birmingham.
So Megan took to Facebook to ask other teachers in the state to donate their sick days to David so he could spend more time with Kinsley.
"Kinsley is the biggest daddy's girl and needs him to be here as often as he can," she wrote, "so she would be thankful for any donated days so she can spend time with her Daddy."
However, in Alabama, teachers can join a sick leave bank in which members can donate their sick days to other members, so there is a path to David being able to be there for his little daughter.
Megan's Facebook post hadn't been up long before folks started sharing it around, and she even received a few offers of sick days from generous strangers.
Time isn't the only thing they need, obviously, as medical bills pile up. So the Greens started a dedicated Facebook page, Kinsley Kicks Cancer, to provide updates and ask for help. The community has shown up, hosting fundraisers and offering a variety of supports.
They've also set up a GoFundMe page and an Amazon Wish List for all the non-teachers who can't donate sick days but still want to help.
Shortly after Megan's plea for sick days for David went viral, more help started pouring in, including a donation of $1,300 from the Karen Miller Agency and $600 from the Blockout Academy.
"To put the financial side of things into perspective one medicine that Kinsley needs when Kinsley is going through her two years of maintenance will cost us over $15,000 out of pocket because our insurance doesn’t cover it," Megan wrote. "And that is just one medicine. So every donation is a huge help and we are so thankful for it!"
