Send Leo to Lourdes!
Goal:
USD $10,000
Raised:
USD $10,750
Campaign funds will be received by Mary Nelson
Send Leo to Lourdes!
Help Us Bring Leo to Lourdes – A Pilgrimage of Healing and Hope
We have been blessed with an extraordinary opportunity: our son Leo has been chosen to join the Order of Malta’s annual pilgrimage to Lourdes, France, taking place on April 27. This deeply spiritual journey will include 50 Malades (the sick and suffering) and more than 200 volunteer doctors, nurses, and caregivers. Mary and I have the honor of accompanying Leo as his caregivers.
As many of you know, Leo suffers from severe quadriplegic cerebral palsy. He is non-verbal, immobile, and is fed through a G-tube. Every day presents its challenges—but also small triumphs and immense love.
This pilgrimage is more than a trip; it’s a prayer in motion, a step toward healing, and a moment to place our hopes and pain at the feet of our Lord in the very place where miracles have happened. We are praying for healing for Leo, and for strength and peace for our family.
Unfortunately, due to the recent closure of a couple of my businesses, finances are incredibly tight right now. The cost of the pilgrimage is $3,800 per person, totaling $7,600 for Mary and me to accompany Leo, not including meals and other travel costs, including our flight to Los Angeles to meet the charter flight to France.
We’re reaching out in humility to ask for your support in helping us raise the funds needed to make this journey.
About the Order of Malta:
The Sovereign Order of Malta is a lay Catholic religious order that has been serving the sick and the poor for over 900 years. Each year, they lead a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France, a site where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Bernadette in 1858 and which has become known for miraculous healings and deep spiritual renewal. You can learn more about their mission and history here: www.orderofmalta.int
This is a unique moment to be surrounded by others of deep faith, to share in community and prayer, and to witness the presence of Christ in suffering and in service.
We believe God has opened this door, and now we are trusting that He will provide the means to walk through it. If you feel moved to help, any donation—big or small—would mean the world to us. And above all, we ask for your prayers for Leo, for healing, for safe travel, and for God’s will to be done.
With gratitude and faith,
Alex, Mary, and Leo
Recent Donations
Hugs and prayers for this amazing Journey.💕
May Mama Mary bring healing and great peace.
We are praying for a blessed pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady in Lourdes
Let’s get this over the finish line! Love you Leo
Praying for a miracle!
So excited you guys are getting this opportunity! Many prayers for the journey and for Leo’s healing 🙏🏽💝
God bless your family
Prayers for your family and that Leo remains blessed and with God.
Praying and rooting you on Leo. Brian. (Friend of Ryan Hosley)
May our lady of Lourdes touch you with her healing hands. All prayers for Leo will be answered in His own way and in His own time. The Holy Spirit will bring healing to him and use Leo to lead other closer to Christ not only through this journey, but Leo's life journey as well.
May the Holy Spirit go with you! We love you all.
Prayers and love to Leo and his family.
Updates
Final Campaign Update with full hearts and grateful praise!
April 9th, 2025
Dear Friends, Family, and Faithful Supporters,
With tears in our eyes and overwhelming gratitude in our hearts, we are overjoyed to share that we have exceeded our fundraising goal for Leo’s pilgrimage. What a beautiful testimony to the goodness of God and the generosity of His people!
To each and every person who donated, shared, and prayed, thank you. You have been instruments of hope and healing in our lives. Your support is more than financial; it’s a visible sign of God’s love poured out through His Church and His people. We are humbled and so deeply moved.
All glory to God, our Provider! From the very beginning, we entrusted this journey to His hands. And once again, He has shown Himself faithful beyond measure. Lord who provides has moved mountains for our little boy through each of you.
Mary and I are filled with hope as we prepare for this sacred journey. This pilgrimage is more than a trip, it’s a walk of faith where we believe Leo will encounter the miraculous healing power of Jesus. We go not just with expectation, but with confidence in the One who can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine.
Please continue to keep Leo in your prayers. We carry your love with us every step of the way.
With deepest gratitude and love,
Alex, Mary & Leo
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-1
92% funded! Leo is on the mend!
April 8th, 2025
We’re incredibly excited to share that we’re just $475 away from our goal. 95% funded in only 12 days! We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, generosity, and support from each of you.
Even better news, Leo’s pneumonia is gone! He’s still using a nebulizer as his cough clears up, but your prayers are working. We’re confident he’ll be in great health and high spirits for the pilgrimage, which is now just 3 weeks away.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for walking this journey with us. Your kindness is lifting our family more than you know.
Closing in on our goal! Praise be to God!
April 3rd, 2025
Dear wonderful supporters,
We are deeply moved by your generosity and kindness. This afternoon, we received another generous offline gift, bringing our total to $8,775! Just $1,225 away from reaching our goal!
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. Your support, your prayers, and your willingness to share our story with your friends and family mean more to us than words can express.
We are especially grateful for the many kind messages and heartfelt prayers you’ve shared. With faith and hope, we trust that the Lord will continue to provide and that we’ll reach our goal in the coming days.
With love and gratitude,
The Nelson Family
Grateful Hearts & Healing Progress
April 1st, 2025
Wonderful donors,
We are so incredibly thankful to share that with your generous support, both online and offline, we've now raised $4,625, which brings us to almost 50% of our goal. Your kindness, prayers, and encouragement mean the world to our family.
Leo is healing well from his recent bout of pneumonia. He’s not a big fan of the nebulizer (understandably!) but the antibiotics are doing their job, and we’re seeing good progress. We’re especially hopeful that the persistent cough he’s had for the past several months will clear up before our upcoming trip to France.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for walking this journey with us. Your love lifts us up. We love you all.
May God bless each of you and your families during this beautiful season of Lent, and may your hearts be filled with peace and hope.
With gratitude,
Alex, Mary & Leo
First two days of Leo’s campaign update
March 29th, 2025
Thank you for your prayers. The outpouring of support has been a huge blessing to our family!
Including an offline gift we received, we’re excited to share that we’ve surpassed 25% of our goal! Thank you so much for your generosity and encouragement.
We are looking forward with great hope to this pilgrimage, trusting in a powerful encounter with Our Lord and the Blessed Mother at Lourdes.
We are also very pleased to report that Leo’s pneumonia has already started to get better just one day after his visit with the pulmonologist. Healing prayers are always heard by our glorious and divine Father.
We will continue to share updates as the trip approaches. Please keep Leo and our family in your prayers!
With gratitude,
The Nelson Family
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