A homophobic donor withdrew her $7,600 donation destined to deliver life saving treatment to a 18-month-old with cancer after learning that her parents are two women.
Tiffany and Albree Shaffer, 26, were in the hospital waiting for yet more results of little Callie's treatment when they received a hateful Facebook message informing them of the donor's change of heart earlier this month.
The couple were devastated learn the would-be donor had backed out of giving them $7,600 to cover the 18-month-old's medical bills after discovering they were in a same sex relationship.
18-month-old Callie Shaffer (centre) with her family; brother Tyler, seven, and parents Tiffany and Albree (left) Shaffer, 26. A $7,600 donation towards the care of Callie was removed after the donor found her parents were a same sex couple
However in a heart-warming twist, another benefactor named Aaron Jackson, 37, offered to match the required sum after being dismayed at the blatant homophobia.
Charity worker Aaron felt compelled to step in after claiming to have had a donor refuse to back his charity when they discovered they advocated LGBT rights.
Now Albree, from Cincinnati, Ohio, US, who quit her childcare business to care for Callie, says the generous donation will mean they have the time to focus on battling their daughter's neuroblastoma.
The message sent to Callie's parents as they had their hopes of funding her treatment dashed by a homophobic donor
Callie Shaffer receives treatment for stage four cancer in hospital. Callie was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma, on January 8 and is deemed high risk because the advanced and aggressive cancer has metastasized to her bones
Now Albree, who quit her childcare business to care for Callie, says the generous donation will mean they have the time to focus on battling their daughter's neuroblastoma.
'Sorry. I'll still pray for her though but maybe it's God's way of getting your attention that she need's a mommy and a daddy, not 2 mommy's.'
However upon hearing about it, Aaron contacted them and said: 'I heard that you lost 7,600 because you two are lesbians.
'Well, I'm giving you $7,600 because you are wonderful parents that are fighting for your child.'
Albree said: 'We were already scared and stressed out and then we received that disgusting message.
Callie only began showing symptoms of illness back in December last year when the toddler stopped eating, drinking and wanted to be held all the time
Callie Shaffer with brother Tyler (left) and parents Tiffany and Albree (right). Albree quit her childcare business to care for Callie
Aaron Jackson, 37, was the kind donor who stepped in to help the family and fund the tot's cancer treatment after being appalled by the homophobic donor
'First we were shocked then disgusted.
'How can someone write something like that when we're already so down?
'We didn't reply and haven't heard from her since, but we've heard from others that she's since deleted her page.
'We're still shocked [that Aaron said he would donate so much]. I cried when I found out.'
'It was confusing because we weren't sure it was legit but he said 'we deserved it'.
'We do believe that maybe that woman [who withdrew her donation] should have an education class, because people can be afraid of what they don't have the knowledge of. It doesn't matter who cares for the child.
'I would say thank you to that woman now, because she's [inadvertently] brought so much awareness for Callie's story.'
Callie playing with her doll while in hospital. The adorable girl wears a bow hair band as she receives treatment in hospital
Aaron, who is president of non-profit humanitarian organisation Planting Peace and routinely helps at orphanages and crises across the globe, said experiencing something similar from a donor prompted him to step in.
Aaron, Destin, Florida, said: 'When I heard Callie's story, it really struck home for me on many levels.
'A donor pulled their support of our orphanage when Planting Peace started advocating LGBT rights.
'It's truly unbelievable to think about the similarities between the two situations.
'You have children going through horrific situations, they are vulnerable and need love and support.
'How anyone could put their issues with the LGBT community ahead of a child's life is heartbreaking.
'Not five minutes after learning that Callie lost the donation, I gave the full amount.
'Soon after, Planting Peace launched a fundraiser and now we have $10,000 for little Callie.
'My goal was to raise money to replace what she took away, but also to make sure that Callie knows there are many more people who love her in this world than those who feel the way that this one person felt.'
After an x-ray showed a very large mass in Callie's abdomen biopsies were ordered. They got the devastating results that the cancer had spread the following day, coinciding
