Houston nonprofit makes it snow for kid with cancer: 'A little bit of light in a dark situation'

The temperature outside may show nearly 90 degrees Fahrenheit, but for one Houston teenager, it was snowing all around her.

Aayana Clurksy is battling a metastatic form of cancer, and Houston nonprofit organization Operation Snowstorm stepped in to help her take her mind off the illness, Houston NBC affiliate KPRC reported. 

“Operation Snowstorm brings the joy of a winter wonderland to the doorsteps of terminally ill children facing cancer,” the group explained on its Facebook page. “There are many wonderful charities advocating for childhood cancer, some fighting for a cure while others rally for awareness. Our contribution to such a deserving cause is to establish an organization that offers a very sick child a rare opportunity to experience a miracle, a snowstorm in Houston.”

Kelli Francisco, Clurksy’s mother, told KPRC that she and her family are appreciative of the support they’ve received during a challenging time.

“Just have your family ready for something like this because you’re never [going to] be prepared,” Francisco said, the station reported.

Francisco added that Clurksy serves as her source of strength, and she wants her daughter to feel that she’s not alone in her fight.

KPRC reported that to make the rare natural phenomenon happen amid the usual Houston heat, Operation Snowstorm enlisted the help of Ed Newby.

“Long story short, we have a snow machine that takes 10,000 pounds of bagged ice, we run it through there and it comes out snow,” Newby, who works in the air conditioning business, said in the report.

Newby said that he does what he does so that those like Clurksy can have “a little bit of light in a dark situation.”

The station reported that Clurksy’s family set up a GoFundMe page to help cover her medical costs.

Click here to learn more about or donate to Operation Snowstorm.