On Dec. 13, MSP Wakefield post staff learned from the child’s’s grandmother during a Shop with a Cop community event that 2-year-old Vialah White would be spending Christmas in the hospital while receiving cancer treatment. Vialah’s fight began on Sept. 22, when she was rushed to the hospital with severe stomach pain. Doctors first believed it might be appendicitis, but scans showed a large mass deep in her abdomen, near her spine and vital organs.

Doctors diagnosed her with high-risk neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive cancer most often found in young children. Further testing showed the cancer had spread to other parts of her body. Most recently, Vialah was transferred to C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, for further treatment. Despite the difficult road ahead, Vialah has started treatment and continues to demonstrate courage. Her parents remain with her at the hospital as she continues her fight.

Since Vialah and her parents could not be home for the holidays, troopers wanted to help bring them some Christmas cheer right from their hometown in the U.P. Troopers from the Wakefield post shared Vialah’s story with other MSP staff across the region and they all quickly teamed up to help.

Within only a few days, troopers worked together to gather toys, Christmas cards and special items for Vialah. Many of the donations came from the troopers themselves, who personally paid for some of the gifts. Some fellow Yoopers with knowledge of MSP’s plans to surprise the young girl, also stepped in to help, making generous donations that allowed troopers to buy some of Vialah’s favorite “Bluey” toys along with other gifts. Troopers and their families then volunteered to wrap the gifts to make Vialah feel extra special when she received them.

Michigan State Police personnel pack up Christmas presents destined for Vialah White, 2, who is receiving cancer treatment at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor. (Photo courtesy of MSP).

Once everything was ready, the gifts began a long journey, traveling nearly 600 miles and 9-plus hours one-way from the western end of the U.P. to reach Vialah at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor before Christmas.

Community Service troopers from MSP’s Eighth and Second District helped relay the gifts, ensuring there was no impact to law enforcement or 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.”

For the MSP members involved, this was about kindness and showing support for fellow community members. MSP thanks all who helped make this special Christmas mission possible.