MSP Helps Make Christmas Brighter for Young Girl Fighting Cancer

Upper Peninsula, Michigan. Instead of Santa and his sleigh, Michigan State Police (MSP)
troopers aboard their “Blue Goose” patrol car brought Christmas cheer to a young girl fighting
cancer far from home.

On December 13, 2025, MSP Wakefield Post staff learned from Vialah’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 September 22, 2025,
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,
Michigan 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 Upper Peninsula. Troopers from
the Wakefield Post shared Vialah’s story with other MSP staff across the Upper Peninsula, 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.

Once everything was ready, the gifts began their long journey early this morning, December
22nd. They traveled nearly 600 miles and more than 9 hours one way, leaving from the snowy
far western end of the Upper Peninsula. Later today, they were delivered to Vialah at C.S. Mott
Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor.

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.

The family has set up a GoFundMe page to help with expenses. You can donate here:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-little-vialah-fight-childhood-cancer