My sweet redheaded cousin, Sharaiah, is a beautiful nursing student who reminds me of my own oldest daughter. When she is not working on keeping her high grades in nursing school, she loves to fish and loves horses.  
She grew up in the simple, yet economically-challenged mountains of West Virginia, where I was also born. She often stayed with my grandparents, a pastor and a retired school cook, while her mom and dad were saving lives as firefighters and EMTs.

Sharaiah has what is called Chiari One Malformation. Her brain herniated down her neck, and her first surgery was when she was 17-years-old. I remember the first time I saw her beautiful red hair shaved off, and I thought of my own redheaded daughter. It broke my heart.

Still, Sharaiah keeps smiling, making goals, and moving forward. Even with her pain and surgeries and all that comes with her illness, she is an honors nursing student. She is her honors group's bi-state president and has been chosen for the national vice president candidate by them. 

Her second surgery was this past July 25th, and she has had to go back and forth since. Her mom and my aunt (my daddy's older sister) have made the four-and-a-half hour trip so many times. 

Now, she is back for her third surgery, as a hole formed that is causing fluid to leak behind her brain and skull. This causes severe pressure, and doctors have to go back in behind her brain and drain the fluid so that the hole can be repaired.   

My cousin, her mom, wants to be with her, of course. Celestiel spent most of her adult life saving the lives of others, then when her back started to fail her, she taught others how to save lives. When that became too much, she had to go on disability. That is not much to live on. Her mom, my aunt Janet (my daddy's older sister), has suffered from fibromyalgia for years, and cannot do much herself.

I am reaching out on behalf of my cousin and her little girl, who is now a young woman. This trip will make her 5th trip to Cleveland in the past 6 weeks. The last trip was to go with her daughter, Sharaiah, to be with her after the ambulance took her to the hospital. My cousin lives simply, not beyond her means, and this is the first time she has ever asked for my help, in the 42 years we have been a part of each other's lives. Her bill money has been spent and she just wants to go to be with her only daughter.

The amount asked for will cover Sharaiah's medicine (insurance will not cover the total since it is out-of-state care), gas to and from the long trip, as well as gas to and from the hospital. My cousin (her mom) and aunt have to stay within 10 miles of the hospital, and of course, have to eat.

Anything you can donate will help. SHARING this page is helping, as well. If you pray, please send those out for my family, too!