Joseph Mickeliunas is a history teacher whose son, Elliott, was born with severe hemophilia VIII. Amelia Mickeliunas is a seven-year-old girl with a goal to help raise money for her younger brother, Elliott. Three years ago, Amelia started a lemonade stand, selling cookies and lemonade to raise money for Elliott. “She is the absolute best big sister. It was all her idea. We are so proud of everything she does for Elliott,” Amelia’s parents say, “With all of the recognition she receives, she remains humble and loves her brother unconditionally.” 

Although it is hard for a little girl to have a sibling with such a devastating disease, Amelia is a rock star. Amelia loves to dance, make crafts and play hide and seek, but most of all, she loves Elliott. She enjoys going to hemophilia events with her family and that her family gets to spend a lot of time together. Amelia and Elliott love playing together, and Amelia is known to hold Elliott, to sing to him and to play with him. With love, Amelia describes Elliott, “He is kind, funny, cool and happy most of the time.” 

Maureen Grace, the Executive Director of the Nebraska Chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation approached the Mickeliunas family after seeing how much money Team Elliott had been raising. Wondering who was raising so much money, Grace approached the family and promptly asked who they were. The Mickeliunas parents say, “From there, we became a part of NHF and we work with them all the time. Amelia has been a part of the nationwide emails and letters. Val Bias, the CEO of the National Hemophilia Foundation heard her story and wanted to pass it on.” 

At her first lemonade stand, Amelia raised five-hundred dollars. Each year her profits have continued to increase- at her second stand, Amelia raised two-thousand-five-hundred dollars, and at her third stand Amelia raise six-thousand-five-hundred dollars. The National Hemophilia Foundation recognized Team Elliott is number one in the state of Nebraska for raising the most money. “We attend family and educational events so we know more about Hemophilia and treatments,” says Joseph, “I am a board member on the Nebraska Chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation. I am on the Advocacy Committee and chairman of the Fundraising Committee.” 

Amelia Mickeliunas is an extraordinary little girl with big goals and a bigger heart. She largely contributes to the National Hemophilia Foundation and hemophilia awareness in the Nebraska Chapter. The Mickeliunas family goes through a lot of struggle, but they have a positive outlook on the situation. “It truly makes us stronger as a family. We knew that we were all in this together and needed to be strong for Elliott and learn as much as possible,” says Joseph, “Jenny and I became medical parents. The staff at the Children’s Hospital and the Emergency Department know us by name.”