Hi, my name is Aleisha. I am trying to raise funds to help my son. It took me a while to get up the courage to ask.
The quick‑and‑dirty
Who: Elliot Anglin, freshly minted high‑school grad, gifted artist, future radio‑and‑film major, all‑around hilarious human.
Diagnosis: Acute T‑cell lymphoblastic leukemia (yep, the gnarly one) diagnosed February 7, 2024.
Status: In maintenance phase (great counts, still a full year of chemo, lumbar punctures, labs, meds, and “please‑poke‑me‑again” clinic visits ahead).
Goal: $30,000 to wipe out sky‑high back bills and cover the next year’s out‑of‑pocket costs (so leukemia debt doesn’t choke out college before it starts).
Elliot’s story (the heartstring section ❤️)
Three things you should know about Elliot:
He’s absurdly creative. Sketchbooks, digital art, short films – if it tells a story, he’s on it. His plan: start at Austin Community College’s renowned Radio, Television & Film program, then level up to Texas State.
He’s endured more plot twists than a soap opera. Elliot lost his dad Aaron in a car crash when he was a toddler. Years later, his stepdad Danny (who brought three new siblings into the fold) was killed in a motorcycle hit‑and‑run. Through every shake‑up, Elliot kept cracking jokes and making art.
He didn’t choose the leukemia life; the leukemia life chose him. Treatments slammed into senior year. Graduation pics feature both a cap & gown and a port in his chest – very avant‑garde.
Why the money matters (a.k.a. “I thought insurance handled that?!”)
Even with insurance, turning 18 shut off survivor benefits, and copays snowballed. The family is staring down:
Past‑due bills: hospital stays, lab work, imaging, prescriptions.
Monthly maintenance costs: chemo, lumbar punctures, bloodwork, home meds, surprise ER runs.
Living expenses & travel: gas to Dell Children’s, parking fees, missed work shifts for Mom (Aleisha) and her partner, plus feeding three siblings who firmly believe pizza is a food group.
Hospitals keep treating, but late fees and collections drag credit scores – and a kid who’s fought this hard shouldn’t start adulthood in the red.
Stretch goal: normalcy
Your donation means Elliot can worry about acceptance letters instead of collection letters. It keeps art supplies on his desk, gas in the tank, and college firmly on the horizon.
Elliot is proudly trans ️⚧️
For many donors that’s a heck yes rally point; for some it’s just another adjective. Either way, we’ll mention it once and focus on the universal goal – keeping a brilliant teen alive and thriving.
Ways to help
Give what you can. Skip just one fancy‑coffee run? That’s a week of anti‑nausea meds.
Share. Post the link with a note about why you care – personal shares raise 3–5× more than generic reposts.
Comment & follow. Words of support boost visibility in fundraiser’s algorithm AND fuel Elliot on the rough days.
Follow the journey
Aleisha will drop updates here after each major milestone – lab results, lumbar puncture victories, and the inevitable family selfies. Expect plenty of sass, gratitude, and maybe a cat cameo.
From Elliot (in his own snarky words):
“Leukemia tried to cancel my future. I plan to hit ‘unsubscribe.’ Thanks for helping me trade IV poles for camera poles.”
Thank you for reading, sharing, and donating. Let’s get this kid back behind the lens where he belongs.
