2026 FAMILIES
The 2026 CPBC Families
This year the Chicago Polar Bear Club is honored to expand our impact and support another set of amazing Chicagoland families.
Read on for their inspiring stories below, including details on how your support for the CPBC will each of help these families look forward to a bright future.
(1) Arianny Avalos
Meet Arianny: a bright, joyful 5-year-old whose world, and her family’s, changed forever this past January. Just two weeks after celebrating her fifth birthday, Arianny was diagnosed with leukemia. In an instant, everything shifted. What should have been a time of laughter and play turned into hospital visits, chemotherapy sessions, and uncertainty.
Arianny is now in the Delayed Intensification phase of treatment, one of the most gruelling stages of her two-and-a-half-year chemotherapy plan. This means multiple hospital visits every week, hours-long chemotherapy infusions, frequent blood transfusions, and constant monitoring of her blood counts and immune system. Arianny has endured more in the past few months than most adults do in a lifetime; yet she smiles through the treatment, clinging to her favorite stuffed animal and the hope of returning home full-time.
Arianny faces each day with remarkable courage, but the weight of this diagnosis is not hers alone to carry. Her parents, Adrian and Gisela, are doing everything they can to provide not only for Arianny’s care, but also for the needs of their 3 other children: Ximena, Scarlett and Dario. Gisela recently had to leave her job to become Arianny’s full-time caregiver managing medication schedules, hospital stays, and a family of 6. Adrian works long hours as a truck driver, trying desperately to keep the family afloat. Every dollar he earns is stretched thin between rent, transportation, groceries, clothes, medical expenses and necessities.
This isn’t just a medical battle…it’s a full-family ordeal. The older children are trying to stay focused on school, but fear and worry fill their days. Family dinners have sometimes been replaced with quick meals on hospital trays. The stress is constant, and uncertainty hangs over the family.
How We Can Help
Gisela and Adrian hope for one thing: four healthy, happy children who grow up surrounded by love, laughter, and the comfort of home, not hospital walls. With support from the CPBC, we can help cover some of Arianny’s medical costs and weekly treatments not fully covered by insurance, rent, car repairs, groceries, clothes and essential supplies for the children. Your support will help unburden some of the financial stress from Gisela and Adrian, so they are able to focus on their family.
(2) Pearlie Maggette and Family
Meet Pearlie Maggette and Family:
At 68, Pearlie Maggette is a devoted widow who has spent much of her life opening her home to children in need. For years, she served as a foster mom, caring for countless children and providing them with love and stability. Among them was Eulandria, whom Pearlie and her late husband adopted when she was just three months old. Eulandria was born with health and developmental challenges, and Pearlie has always been by her side to ensure she has the care and support she needs to thrive. Pearlie continued that commitment after her husband passed away 12 years ago. When Eulandria became a single mother at 23, Pearlie also stepped in as the legal guardian for both her daughter and grandson, now five years old.
Life took a devastating turn on May 22, 2025, when a fire destroyed their home and everything they owned. The family had no insurance and has spent the months since moving between hotels, shelters, and a temporary apartment far from their community in Crest Hill. Pearlie longs to return to Crest Hill, where she has built her life and support network, but finding affordable, stable housing has been difficult.
Through it all, Pearlie’s strength and gratitude shine through. Reflecting on the fire, she said, “The only thing we have is ourselves and I thank God for that. All the stuff can be replaced; we can’t be replaced.”
Pearlie receives Social Security and serves as full-time caregiver for her daughter and grandson. Together with her daughter’s SSI, the family’s monthly income is modest, and they struggle to cover rent, utilities, and transportation costs. Her grandson is also currently being tested for autism and developmental delays, adding to Pearlie’s concerns about his future care. Without a car, transportation to appointments and daily needs has been especially challenging. Pearlie also carries some debt and is starting over from nothing after the fire. Still, her focus remains steady: ensuring her daughter and grandson are safe and supported.
How We Can Help
Pearlie has spent much of her life caring for others, first as a foster mom to many children, then as a loving mother and now as a grandmother. Today, she and her family need the community’s care in return. Assistance with securing stable housing, paying down debts, and covering basic household needs will provide the stability Pearlie wants for her daughter and grandson. With your help, the family will return to their community and begin again with hope and dignity.
(3) Nikeisha Hunter and Family
Meet Nikeisha Hunter and Family: Nikeisha Hunter is a devoted single mother of five children, each of them bright students working hard in school. Her life changed dramatically this year when hardship struck twice within a matter of months.
First, Nikeisha was the victim of a shooting that shattered the bones in her dominant hand, leaving her with months of rehab and permanent loss of full mobility. She continues to heal, determined to regain her strength and keep working to provide for her family. Just as she was beginning to recover, her oldest son (age 15) became seriously ill. What began with a headache and flu-like symptoms quickly escalated, and by the end of the day he was losing mental capacity, suffering a stroke. He was rushed to the ER and taken to the operating room within minutes, where doctors discovered a rare condition called Lemierre Syndrome. The infection had spread to his brain, causing a stroke and leaving him paralyzed on his right side. Surgeons were forced to remove part of his skull, later replacing it with a modeled bone.
Thanks to early intervention and his incredible determination, he is now home and undergoing rehabilitation. While he has made progress, he still wears protective headgear and cannot yet return to the activities most teens enjoy, like running with friends or playing sports. His recovery includes outpatient therapies and day rehab to help him regain independence.
For Nikeisha, balancing her own recovery with her son’s medical needs has been challenging, but she remains steadfast in caring for her children and moving forward. Before her injury, she worked full-time in hotel housekeeping, but the physical demands of lifting and cleaning are difficult with limited mobility in her hand. She has returned to work part-time, though her income is much less than before. She is also starting over after a recent move, with few belongings and every penny carefully accounted for. Though she dreams of returning to school to better her family’s future, those plans are on pause while she focuses on keeping her children safe and cared for.
Her younger children, ages 14, 11, 9, and 6, continue to excel in school, bringing home A’s and B’s, and her oldest son is working hard to get back on track with his studies. Through it all, Nikeisha remains devoted to her family. As she puts it, “I want to do something positive, nothing major, nothing fancy, just good. As long as my kids are happy, I’m happy.”
How We Can Help
The family faces ongoing challenges with reduced income, high rent and utility costs, daily essentials and the added time and expenses of regular medical appointments. Covering housing, utilities, and transportation will provide stability while her son continues rehabilitation and Nikeisha recovers from her injury. Nikeisha has mentioned wanting to return to school and enter into a better career.
Your support will ease the financial and emotional strain, allowing Nikeisha and her children to focus on healing and rebuilding. Together, we can help keep this family secure and give them the breathing room they need during this difficult time.
(4) The Bell Family
Meet Sheron and her daughter Samaria: a resilient mother and her brave little girl, navigating a journey marked by medical complexity, financial strain, and unwavering love.
Samaria’s first year of life was anything but typical. Born with Down Syndrome and a serious congenital heart condition known as AVSD* (Atrioventricular Septal Defect), she spent her earliest days in the NICU. At just four months old, Samaria underwent her first heart surgery, a daunting 40-day hospital stay followed by a second surgery at six months, which kept her hospitalized for another 14 days. In total, Samaria spent 75 days in the hospital during her first year.
When Samaria was finally able to come home from the NICU, she required a feeding tube for her first year. Sheron and her partner had to quickly learn how to install, clean, and maintain the tube, as well as feed their daughter. This was a frightening and overwhelming task for any new parent, but they rose to the challenge, determined to give Samaria the best care possible.
To provide the necessary care, Sheron is a substitute teacher in the Chicago Public School system, typically working 2–3 days per week while Samaria is in daycare. But, frequent doctor appointments often reduce her availability. Samaria’s father is actively involved in her daily care and provides some financial support. Samaria also receives Social Security payments, which Sheron uses exclusively for her daughter’s needs: diapers, wipes, clothes, food, and activities that support her growth and wellbeing.
Despite their dedication, the family faces ongoing challenges. Sheron’s car needs repairs, and she is struggling to keep up with insurance payments. The car is essential for transportation to Samaria’s doctor appointments, especially when she is at a higher risk for illness.
Sheron is also hoping to move to a safer neighborhood and find a new daycare that can support Samaria’s unique needs. At age 2, Samaria has now recovered from her surgeries, removed the feeding tube and is making joyful strides in her development. With the help of SMO equipment, she has learned to walk and is beginning to run, a milestone that fills her parents with pride and hope.
As Samaria continues to grow, Sheron knows there will be many challenges ahead. Children with Down Syndrome often require additional support to reach developmental milestones, and Sheron is committed to ensuring Samaria has every opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. With the right resources, Samaria can enjoy a childhood filled with joy, discovery, and possibility, the same as any other child.
How We Can Help
Sheron’s dream is simple: a safe, healthy life for Samaria, where she can continue to grow and thrive. Reliable transportation and safe housing are the immediate needs that will provide Sheron and Samaria the foundation they need to build a future for their family. With support from the CPBC, we can help Sheron provide Samaria with those building blocks, so she has a childhood filled with love, learning, and the chance to reach her full potential.
*AVSD is a condition where holes exist between the heart’s chambers and only one valve forms instead of two, causing oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood to mix. This puts immense strain on the heart and lungs. In addition to AVSD, Samaria had a leak in her pulmonary valve, further complicating her condition.
