Having a sick child is hard . Between fearing for their life, juggling jobs and treatments, and trying to keep a hopeful attitude for everyone’s sake, it’s the height of stress.
Add on the financial burden and it’s amazing how many families manage to soldier through without breaking down.
Callie June is an adorable 18-month-old whose adoption was recently finalized.
It should be a joyous event, but around the same time, she was diagnosed with advanced neuroblastoma. It has metastasized to her lymph nodes and bones.
She was diagnosed on New Year’s Day.
Saddest New Year ever.
Callie has a big fight ahead of her, with chemo and radiation treatment, followed by surgery. She also needs a bone marrow transplant.
Her mom Albree is staying with her full-time at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
Meanwhile, mom Tiffany is working extended hours and commuting to the hospital each day.
As you’ve probably guessed, Callie’s adoptive parents are both women.
This shouldn’t even be worth commenting about except that someone decided to make it A Thing.
In hopes of helping cushion the costs, Callie’s aunt Lorrie started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for treatment and living expenses.
They also started a Facebook page so people could follow Callie’s progress.
“Callie Strong, Tiny But Mighty” chronicles the little girl’s daily triumphs and struggles as she fights her way back to health.
“Callie had a long day of playing hard and walking today!” her mother Albree writes, “She did amazing! We tried to give her some juice today she didn’t keep it down so she’s still npo for now. She’s such a amazing and tough little girl!”
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The moms don’t shy away from sharing medical related updates either.
“Her doctor Dr Weiss (they call him the neuroblastoma god) he stopped in today and said that Callie will be starting round 5 of chemo on Monday!” Albree shares.
“He also said that there will be no need for round 6 after that stem cell transplant. He said 98% of her tumor is dead! And there is no need for round 6.”
Most of their posts have garnered an outpouring of support from their community.
“Keeping you in prayer Ms. Callie” one woman writes, “You are beautiful, strong, loving, and brave…you are a warrior!”
Others send their hopes and prayers for Callie’s quick recovery.
After a few donations came in, they received a message through Facebook.
Yeah, you read that right. This person was going to make a huge donation, but because Albree and Tiffany are both women, they changed their minds.
Not only did they decide not to donate, but they insinuated that Callie’s illness was the moms’ fault.
Like, that God was punishing them for their relationship.
Who even does that to people with a sick child?!
The moms took to Facebook to make it clear that they will not be deterred.
“This is a very sick little girl, who’s life is on the line……for someone to actually send this and speak to my family in this way is utterly DISGUSTING” the post reads, “Regardless of how you feel, don’t say a word. What Callie needs is love and support…..not hate and misery!”
Callie’s supporters were NOT putting up with any hate towards the family.
“People get over yourselves” one person writes, “This child has two loving parents that care and that’s all that matters. Haters need not apply and praying for Callie. Hugs and love.”
People were outraged that someone would dare treat a loving family like that.
One person writes that they are “so sorry you’ve been subjected to such hypocrisy and ignorance.”
Others offer to lend an extra hand in the couple’s time of need:
” We are near,” a person comments, “is there anything we can bring you? Home cooked meal? Toys?”
Maybe the person who sent the message thought they were teaching a lesson, but their hatefulness hasn’t had the effect they’d hoped for.
Instead of making the moms change their supposed ways, the message has only increased the reach of Callie’s campaign.
Since posting the screenshot, Callie’s page has gained thousands of followers.
And more importantly, that extra reach means more donations. Heck, in the time it took me to write up this story, the GoFundMe total jumped almost $500.
Supporting Callie and her moms, whether through donating or simply sharing their story is the perfect way to tell that hateful person what compassion really looks like.
