Rally for Rayas

Story

Dear Friends,

We are reaching out to share an urgent and heartfelt request for support for our dear friend, Michael Greenlee, and his beloved 14-year-old daughter, Rayas.

In late 2024, Rayas began experiencing recurring headaches and nausea, initially brushed off as stress-related. Unfortunately, her symptoms quickly worsened, transforming into debilitating migraines, accompanied by persistent nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. After multiple visits to the emergency room, Rayas was admitted to Westchester Medical Center in February as her condition deteriorated sharply.

The medical team at Westchester grappled with her condition. Rayas was enduring immense pain and alarming symptoms leading to elevated spinal fluid levels, which resulted in brain swelling and vision loss. In a desperate attempt to provide some relief, doctors inserted an EVD to relieve the pressure. Her doctors faced challenges in diagnosing her as her health continued to decline. Rayas was transferred to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, where a shunt was placed, and she was remitted to the care of the oncology department to conduct further tests, including genomic sequencing. The world-renowned cancer institute Memorial Sloan Kettering began consulting on her case as it had attracted international attention. MSK is at the pinnacle of cutting-edge cancer research, and it was with their oversight that led to a diagnosis.

Rayas has been diagnosed with an incredibly rare and aggressive type of brain cancer, typically found in children under two. There have been fewer than 500 cases reported globally. Treating this type of cancer poses a daunting challenge as the cancer is in her spinal fluid rather than forming a traditional tumor mass. Because of the rarity and small data pool of cases, there is no clear pathway to treatment.

However, with the expertise of MSK and a team of global medical experts, a strategy was developed that includes radiation therapy followed by chemotherapy. For a brief moment, Rayas was able to return home to spend time with her beloved Shiba Inu, Nami. However, her condition took a serious turn on April 12th, leading to a 3am emergency admission to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Throughout those sleepless nights filled with worry and heartache, her family has been unwavering in their support, standing by her side as she fights this life-threatening battle. Emergency radiation was promptly initiated, and a revised treatment strategy was developed to address her rapid decline, where even basic tasks were implausible.

Rayas recently completed four weeks of radiation therapy and is poised to begin chemotherapy next month. Throughout this harrowing journey, both her parents and the medical team have been uplifted by her remarkable progress, noted by experts as nothing short of miraculous.

Rayas is truly a warrior. Before this battle began, she was an active, funny, and vibrant teenager with a passion for equestrian sports. The love of her family and the dedication of the team at MSK have helped her defy the odds. On her last day of radiation, there was a touching moment as she walked independently to ring the bell in celebration of her milestone—a moment that felt impossible just weeks prior.

Her family has faced sleepless nights filled with worry but continues to hold on to hope. We know that many of you are wondering how to help, and some may not yet be aware of the magnitude of Rayas’s struggles due to the rapid progression of her illness. Your kindness and generosity will help lighten the burden on her family as they stand strong by Rayas during this fight for her life.

Thank you for keeping Rayas in your thoughts and for your unwavering kindness.

With much love,
Team Rayas

P.S. To help Michael and the family focus fully on Rayas’s care, we kindly ask that you limit direct outreach at this time. Please feel free to leave messages of support here on this GoFundMe page—we’ll make sure they’re passed along and will continue to share updates as we have them. Thank you for understanding.

Organizers :

Co-organized
Kim McCall and 4 others are organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Michael Greenlee.