Ray Ray’s fight against AML

06/17/2026

I am overjoyed with this beautiful solid Walnut frame handmade by our Papa Edwin Weir to accent the beauty of our RayRay for her funeral service. He worked diligently to make it perfect for his sweet granddaughter in heaven and of course for me to keep for ever.

06/16/2026

Funeral arrangements for my sweet baby girl.

View Rachael Lauren Weir's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

06/13/2026

It is with the most shattered hearts that we share our sweet Rachael “RayRay” passed away tonight at 9:05 PM.

After fighting AML for four long years, her little body simply could not fight any longer. Leukemia had taken over her lungs, and despite every treatment, every prayer, every ounce of strength she had, her lungs gave out.

There are no words to describe the pain we are feeling. We are absolutely devastated and completely heartbroken. I hate that I am having to share this news with the world, but I know there have been thousands of people praying for our girl, loving her, and walking beside us through this childhood cancer journey. You all deserved to know.

For four years, Rachael fought a battle that no child should ever have to fight. She endured more than most people will face in a lifetime, yet she continued to smile, laugh, love, and show a strength that amazed everyone around her. She was truly a warrior.

I begged God for a miracle. I prayed for healing. I prayed for more time. Tonight, God’s answer was different than what my heart desperately wanted. While I may never understand why, I take comfort in knowing that Rachael is no longer suffering. She is whole, she is healed, and she is resting in the arms of Jesus.

To every single person who prayed, donated, sent messages, visited us, sat beside us in the hospital, cried with us, and carried us when we had no strength left—thank you. We will never be able to express how grateful we are for the love and support you have shown our family.

My greatest hope is that Rachael’s life, her courage, and her journey impacted others, brought awareness to childhood cancer, strengthened faith, and reminded people to never take a single moment with their children for granted.

Our sweet RayRay leaves behind a legacy far bigger than her tiny body. She changed lives, and she will forever be loved, forever missed, and forever our little girl.

We will share funeral arrangements as soon as they are finalized.

Please continue to pray for our family as we learn how to live in a world without her.

06/12/2026

BIG SCARE this morning with RayRay.

At 5 AM, Rachael spiked a 103° fever and her oxygen levels began dropping into the 70s. It was one of the most terrifying moments we have faced. We truly thought we might lose her.

The doctors had to have very difficult conversations with us. They asked at what point we would want to proceed with intubation because they could not wait until it was too late. They also asked about our wishes regarding CPR because of how close she was to potentially needing it.

We did everything we could to bring her fever down. She was already given Tylenol, so we covered her with cold washcloths and ice and had two fans blowing on her. The medical team moved quickly—giving her a stress dose of steroids, starting vancomycin and amikacin, and administering a large dose of morphine to help her body rest and ease the strain of fighting so hard to breathe.

Then our little fighter showed us something we didn’t know she had left in her. As the medicine took effect, she suddenly found the strength to fight everyone trying to keep her safe, attempting to climb out of bed and calling for her big sister Madi. In that heartbreaking moment, we were reminded that the fight inside of her is still there.

Right now, Rachael remains in an extremely critical condition. She is on 100% oxygen, and her saturations are still only in the 80s. Her chest X-rays show slight worsening, with even less healthy lung tissue available to provide the oxygen reserve her body desperately needs.

We still do not know what caused the sudden fever or why she declined so quickly, but we are praying that the treatments they started will stabilize her and bring her back to a place where her little body can keep fighting.

We have prayed over our child more times than we can count. We know that medically she is facing impossible odds, and we believe that the only way she walks out of this is by the grace, mercy, and healing power of God.

Please continue to pray boldly for our precious RayRay. Pray for her lungs, for her body to respond to the medications, for wisdom for her doctors, and for peace and strength for our entire family. We are holding onto our faith and believing in miracles.

06/10/2026

Update on Rachael today 💛

Last night and today were better for our sweet RayRay, and we are holding tightly to every tiny victory.

She now has a morphine pump to help control her pain and ease the distress of working so hard to breathe. It has helped tremendously. Anyone who knows Rachael knows she rarely complains about pain, so we are thankful that she is finally getting some relief and comfort.

She has been able to keep her oxygen levels relatively stable while on the highest BiPAP settings, and right now, we are celebrating that little win. She even got to take it off for just a few seconds to enjoy a few bites of a Starbucks cake pop and two little sips of iced coffee. It may seem so small, but those tiny moments of happiness mean absolutely everything to us.

She is receiving TPN to keep her body nourished, but it doesn’t satisfy the feeling of hunger. When her oxygen saturations are safely in the 90s, we try to sneak in a bite here and there so she can enjoy the simple pleasure of tasting something she loves.

We have been able to fly and drive in so much family, and seeing her surrounded by the people she loves has brought her so much comfort and joy. Her room is filled with family, friends, laughter, and an overwhelming amount of love.

The PICU team is truly throwing everything but the kitchen sink at our girl. They are fighting right alongside us, and we are incredibly grateful for every doctor and nurse caring for her.

We are still holding onto hope. We are trusting God, believing in His power, and praying boldly for a miracle. I see every prayer, every message, every share, and every act of kindness from each one of you. We will never be able to express how much your love and support have carried our family through the darkest days.

Please keep those prayers coming for our precious RayRay. She is still fighting, and so are we. ❤️

06/10/2026

Ray had a few good hours of playing today. I have to be thankful for every single second she feels good enough to draw.

06/09/2026

The pain of this ordeal is unbearable and ranks among the most trying experiences imaginable. I'd willingly accept a life-long prison sentence or endure the most agonizing death if it meant my child could be spared. As a mother, I'd move heaven and earth to secure my child's recovery and protect them from the ravages of cancer. This disease is terrible, but childhood cancer has been an especially cruel fate, one that has exacted a profound toll on my family and me. While the reasons behind our suffering may be unclear, I remain hopeful that our experience will yield some greater benefit and bring attention to the plight of families affected by childhood cancer. Ultimately, I hope that our collective suffering will not be in vain and will lead to significant advancements in cancer research. No matter how painful this is I am still trusting in God and his plan for my family.

06/09/2026

Last night and today have been absolutely terrifying.

Rachael is currently on the highest BiPAP settings possible and is barely maintaining enough oxygen to support her body and organs. Unfortunately, intubation is not an option because her little body is simply too weak.

Ashley and I took the night shift so Daddy could get some much-needed rest. Throughout the night, we worked nonstop helping Rachael get to the potty, suctioning her when she would choke on mucus, repositioning her, and doing everything we could to keep her oxygen levels from crashing.

We had a few very scary moments when Rachael tried to cough up mucus while wearing a machine that is actively pushing air back into her lungs. At one point, her oxygen levels dropped into the high 60s. Thanks to the quick actions of the ICU nurses and immediate suctioning and replacement of the BiPAP mask, we were able to get her stabilized again.

The day started with a difficult report from the medical team that there has been no respiratory improvement, which was heartbreaking to hear. On top of that, a line infection has placed us in isolation, limiting our ability to use common areas and adding another challenge to an already difficult situation.

This evening, after receiving platelets, Rachael developed a fever. Her oxygen saturations dropped, and her heart rate climbed very high, creating even more concern. Right now, we are living minute by minute and hour by hour.

Despite everything being thrown at her, our sweet girl is still hanging tough. She continues to show a strength that amazes us every single day.

We are in an incredibly vulnerable place right now and desperately need your prayers. Please pray for Rachael’s lungs, for her oxygen levels to improve, for her fever to resolve, for wisdom for her medical team, and for strength for our family as we walk through this impossible season.

Thank you for continuing to lift our precious girl up in prayer. We believe every prayer matters.

06/08/2026

This is a photo before Rachael was ever diagnosed with cancer. It’s the perfect photo capturing and describing my little miss attitude who has so much fight in her it is unreal. I sit here in the hospital with her just watching her fight through the impossible. So strong, so feisty, so fierce, and determined. I am thankful God chose me to be Rachael’s mommy because I am raising a warrior.

06/07/2026

RayRay’s port would not flush so they had to remove it and replace it. She requested John Collin and Daddy hold her hand through it which melted my heart. She was scared and bubba came to the rescue.