Hello! My name is Molly Johnson, Charlie's aunt, and I'm organizing this fundraiser on behalf of his family. Charlie was born with a rare genetic condition called X-linked Lymphoproliferative disease type 2 (XLP2), also known as XIAP deficiency. This means his immune system is missing a small but critical piece that helps regulate how his body responds to infections. Recently, Charlie contracted a common virus (CMV), which caused his immune system to overreact dangerously—something called HLH. Because this overreaction stems from a genetic mutation, it's not a one-time event. Without treatment, it will happen again and could be fatal. On July 15th, Charlie received a life-saving stem cell transplant—his best shot at a cure. His chemotherapy wiped out his immune system completely to make space for new, healthy cells from a generous donor in Germany (we even dressed him in lederhosen to celebrate!). Now, we're in the most critical window: waiting for the donor cells to "engraft" and rebuild Charlie’s immune system. Charlie will be at Laurie’s Children’s Hospital for while his body heals and adjusts. The earliest he might be able to go home is September, if everything goes well. This journey has been incredibly hard—physically, emotionally, and financially. I’m raising funds to help cover medical costs, travel, meals, time away from work, and the many unexpected expenses that come with a long-term hospital stay. I have linked Melissa's personal Venmo account to this page as well as option to donate gift cards as they will have to order their meals every day while staying at the hospital. Every donation, no matter the size, brings comfort and relief to our family. Thank you for showing up for Charlie and helping us carry him through this critical time. 💛 If you are inclined to donate you can Zelle Melissa using her phone number: 847-501-1137