ESCANABA -- It's hard enough to battle a disease when you're an adult, but imagine being only a year old.
For months, Allie Greenier of Escanaba had mysterious rashes on her body. Doctors couldn't figure out what it was. Three months ago, she was finally diagnosed with LCH--Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis--which is a rare blood disease.
Doctors said it was similar to cancer.
“The first thing you think when you hear the word cancer is the worst case scenario,” explained her dad, J.P. Grenier. “You think terminally ill and chemotherapy."
Her parents found out it's not terminal, and right now she's on four different medications.
With proper care, doctors expect the disease to go away by the time she's four or five. A benefit is planned to raise money for medical and travel expenses. You can find information on the Rally for Allie Facebook page that has quite a following.
“It's really helping us out a lot, too, because a lot of people are aware of this now and it's good to have awareness of something like this," said J.P. Grenier.
The family would not be able to care for their baby without the community's help.
“It's really overwhelming and, you know, we're really appreciative of everything everyone's done to help us. It’s just amazing," Grenier said.
The rally will be held on March 23 at the Gladstone Armory. The spaghetti dinner is from 4-7 p.m. There’s a live auction from 7-8. Music will be by Tripod and Sore on Sunday. Donations can be directed to Baybank, P.O. Box 191, Gladstone, MI 49837.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWLUC