A little girl battling cancer far from home received some Christmas cheer from Michigan State Police troopers.
Troopers at the MSP Wakefield Post were hosting a Shop with a Cop community event on Dec. 13 when they were approached by a woman. She told the troopers her granddaughter, 2-year-old Vialah White, was spending Christmas in the hospital for cancer treatment.
Vialah was taken to the hospital for severe stomach pain on Sept. 22. Doctors initially believed she had appendicitis, but scans showed she had a large mass deep in her abdomen. It was near her spine and vital organs.
Vialah was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive cancer most often found in young children. Testing showed it had spread to other parts of her body, including arms, legs and bone marrow.
She was transferred to C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor for further treatment. Vialah has started treatment. Her parents are at the hospital with her.
Troopers shared her story with other MSP staff across the Upper Peninsula, and a coordinated plan was made.
Toys, Christmas cards and special items were gathered for Vialah, with many of the donations coming from the troopers themselves. Community members made donations allowing troopers to purchase more gifts, including toys from her favorite show, “Bluey.”
The wrapped gifts began their nearly 600-mile long journey from the far western end of the UP to C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor before Christmas.
Community Service troopers from the Eighth and Second Districts worked together to relay the gifts. This ensured there was no impact to law enforcement of public safety services.
“When our troopers heard about Vialah from her grandmother at a community event, we wanted to do something special for Vialah and her family,” said Lt. Ben Eckola, MSP Eighth District Public Information Officer. “We wanted to make sure they knew they weren’t alone, especially during Christmas. Because they couldn’t be home for the holidays, we brought a little Christmas cheer from her hometown instead. We hope it brings many smiles to Vialah’s face and offers some joy and encouragement to her and her family, reminding them that people care.”
A Go Fund Me has been set up by Vialah’s grandparents. It has raised almost $15,000 of its $18,000 goal. The page includes updates on her treatment and progress.