SUPPORT THE CUNNINGHAM FAMILY

Here is a note from Ali.

"Mike and I met in grad school, while working on our masters in counseling. We both had a desire to serve others through counseling and that united us. We got married and moved to Grayslake in 2012. Mike worked in addiction counseling and I worked as a counselor at CLC. We attended St. Gilbert and we were active in the Young Adult ministries. In 2017 our little boy Rafael was born. He was born extremely premature. Because of this he suffered a brain injury and many complications. Rafael survived and came home from the NICU after five months. He is very medically complex, he is quadriplegic, tube fed and has severe cognitive delay. Mike gave up his job in order to be his main caregiver. We have worked extremely hard during these past years and we have been able to improve Rafael’s health. Although he has many challenges,  Rafael has grown into a very happy and spunky little boy.

We were slowly rebuilding our lives. Mike took a job at the Lake County Health Department and I transitioned into teaching at CLC. These jobs made our life a bit more flexible and manageable. Then, the unthinkable happened. In late January, Mike suddenly became terribly ill. He almost died and it was discovered that the cause was an undiagnosed leukemia. He miraculously survived and was transported to Chicago for treatment.

I have to stay behind in Grayslake to care for Rafael. Mike will be in-patient for a month at least. We still don’t know anything about prognosis or the treatment process. Mike is facing a lot of complications from the medical crisis on top of the upcoming leukemia treatment. Mike’s family is with him in Chicago, and my family is with me. 

The other night as I cried I remembered a video I had recently watched. The sermon was about suffering. The preacher said that we will all suffer. It is inevitable. But we have a choice. We can be a victim, or we can be a witness. I am working really hard to be a witness. God is love, and I want our little family to be that. A witness that love is stronger than disability, illness and even death. I am humbled at how our families and friends have stepped up and surrounded us with love.Thank you for all your love and support. I am infinitely grateful, not only because of all the practical help, but because it helps keep my faith alive."