News Summary

Urbana, Ohio — Spending five days a week in a hospital with an 11-month old child diagnosed with leukemia is hard enough, but finding a way to pay the medical and other bills in the midst of all that could be impossible for many families.

In Urbana, however, community members have tried to alleviate at least some of those fears for Culley and Phillip Laird and their daughter Alivia.

While on vacation in North Carolina last month, Culley noticed her daughter was having trouble breathing and took her to the emergency room. They were told Alivia had a rare form of leukemia, and Culley and Phillip stayed behind in the state while their daughter was treated.

"This whole family is torn upside down," Culley Laird said.

The family has since returned home to Ohio, said Culley Laird, but Alivia will spend most of the next two years receiving treatment at Children's Medical Center of Dayton.

In a series of fundraisers earlier this month, community members have managed to raise about $14,000 to help cover gas, food and utilities for the family, said Heather Flora, who co-owns Theresa's Gingerbread House with her mother, Theresa Cox.

While some businesses and doctor's offices have chipped in, individual donations have made a difference as well, she said. Local police, churches and others have also chipped in.

"These people in the community are giving $5 and $15 that have added up," she said.

Several fund raisers are still continuing, Flora said. The Gingerbread House is holding a 50/50 raffle at its locations, offering a gift basket from Rothschild's Berry Farm as a prize.

Culley Laird said she's been amazed at how the community has reacted.

"They've been really supportive," she said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0355 or msanctis@coxohio.com.