Four-year-old Mariah Thompson of Geraldine has had a difficult year after a cancer diagnosis, and her family spoke with us about their struggle and a recent rally of support from unlikely sources.
It's hard to tell from looking at energetic Mariah Thompson that she's battling childhood leukemia after being diagnosed with the illness in January.
"It's been a pretty miserable year for us," said her mom, Bonnie Thompson.
The news hit Mariah's five siblings just as hard and while Mariah's cancer has a very high rate of survival, Bonnie says she doesn't take any days for granted.
For that reason - and because her family loves the ballet - she decided to try and take her entire family to see the Nutcracker when the Moscow Ballet comes to town.
But money was kind of tight, according to Bonnie. "They have given us tickets to go see it, so all seven of us get to go which has never happened. We've never been able to afford to do that, so that's really great."
The Moscow Ballet is taking its generosity even further by donating $1 from every ticket sold to other families like the Thompson's. The ballet will also donate 300 T-shirts to the local Uptown Optimist Club, an organization that's been supporting the Thompson's through food, clothes and money for medical bills.
"I never expected such an outpouring from the Moscow Ballet as what we have received," Bonnie told us. "I was hoping that they might help me get a few of my kids to go. I was hoping especially to take her because she has had such a hard year. But, I never expected them to take all of my children and then to also support the group that's supporting us."
Bonnie said the support she's seen has taught her valuable lessons, "Trust God, your family and friends, because you're gonna need 'em."
The Moscow Ballet will be performing the Russian Nutcracker in Great Falls on November 18th at the Mansfield Theatre.
