Kolten's AML Journey

06/11/2026

Day +113

We just got back to the hotel from the hospital. He saw the stem cell team, and the leukemia team today. His labs still look good, his white blood cell count went down a little, so that was a little concerning, but they said it may be because of the virus he had last week. They sent his Gilteritinib (chemo) to the pharmacy to be filled. For some reason insurance denied it ($51,000.... 😒), so I have been on the phone with insurance. They say it will be covered if shipped from a specialty pharmacy, so hopefully he gets it delivered to the hotel.

Kolt still has a lingering cough. He says he feels great though. He has lost a couple pounds, but ate like crazy yesterday so I think his appetite is coming back. He has an appointment with his counselor tomorrow, and dermatology on Monday. Then Stem Cell and Leukemia want to see him again on Thursday, so we will be staying here until then. It is too hard to go back and forth with the babies. They hate riding that long and it stresses Kolten and I out when they scream, cry, and fight. Ugh.

Anyway, the doctors still want to see him once a week. They said they are going to continue that for awhile, so yay us 🙄 As long as he stays in remission, I really don't care how often they need him here in Houston, I WILL make it happen.

The boys are really enjoying the FIFA ⚽️ stuff down here though. It is really cool to see! Will update again next week! Hope y'all have a great weekend!

Thank you to all who have helped us out, and continue to pray for us. We are forever grateful for all of you ❤️ 💛

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https://gofund.me/99de6d128

06/11/2026

We just got to Houston for at least a week. Kolt has multiple appointments, in multiple departments. This is so hard. If you have never been here, i truly pray that you never are. Nobody cares that every single day, is a struggle to put on a happy face. Nobody cares that our bills are not paid. Nobody cares that this is a dark, lonely road. Nobody cares that we could lose everything. Unless you are in a position like this, you would never understand. And I am so glad for that. Because February, 2025, this was a cause I would donate to. I would help anyone i could. And i have 3, not just 1, that are considered disabled. 2 temporarily, and 1 permanently. Now we are living this nightmare and trying to survive. It is insane. So many of our so called "friends" and family have completely turned their back on us. Friends that I considered family don't even breathe our way anymore. It is fine. I will do what I need to, to survive. But man..... if you're ever in this position, I hope KARMA snags your ass. I have gone through our so called "friends" list and fixed it. If you were our friend, you would have stayed since March 11, 2025. PERIOD. Sometimes a text to say you're thinking of us, means more than you know. But to be completely shunned by some that you truly loved, is unforgivable.

Edit to add.... this isn't just about money. This is about people who talked to us, hung out, reached out, generally were considered a friend, and completely turned their backs when our lives crumbled. I can live in a cardboard box, as long as these 3 disabled children are safe and fed. But the friendships we lost along the way, will never be repairable. Ever.

https://gofund.me/ca36219a4

06/07/2026

06/01/2026

Day +103

Kolten hasn't been feeling well since his biopsy. Within the past couple days, he has also lost his sense of smell and taste. So we were sure he had covid. But was swabbed today, and has a virus (i didn't write down the name, so, of course, cannot remember). Basically since he has had it for so long, they think it has run the worst part of it's course, so just told him to lay low for the next week or two.

We are in Houston tomorrow too, as he has multiple appointments then also. Then back to San Antonio til Sunday, when we will return until after his appointments on Monday and Tuesday again.

This is SO hard on us. We thought we were getting back to a normal life, but this is anything but normal. Now Koah is going to be needing another MAJOR surgery on her hip, so that is going to put us in an even bigger bind. Never, ever, 15 months ago, did I even have a NIGHTMARE that our family would be enduring this unimaginable nightmare. Our only worry then, was Brekyn's type 1 diabetes, and that is a cake walk for us now, it seems. Depression is REAL.

Anyway, his labs were good and they stilll are waiting for some of the deeper biopsy results, but the team is THRILLED with his results so far. He will be starting his maintenance chemo, that he will be on for 2 years, within the next couple of weeks, they told us today. Hoping he doesn't react to that is any negative way, as he was on it before and it was ok.

Thank you for all the love and prayers. We still are asking if anyone would like to help, this is our GoFundMe. Struggle is an understatement for our family at this point.

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Hello! Me again.... I have chosen to set my pride aside again, and tell … Alana Smith needs your support for Help with Travel Costs for Kolten and Koah’s Care

05/30/2026

A dear friend donated this for a R A F F L E!

If you're an Astros fan, you NEED!

Only 25 spots at $10 a piece!

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Venmo- Alana-smith-33
Paypal- [email protected]

Thank you!

05/29/2026

Day +100

No words..... just going to leave this for y'all to read for yourself.



🎊🎉🎊🎉💪🎗💪🎗

05/26/2026

Day +97

Today was a HUGE day in Kolten's journey. His first bone marrow biopsy since his stem cell transplant. He had multiple appointments, so we got to MD Anderson nice and early. He had labs drawn, saw his amazing counselor, met with the Stem Cell doctors, the ORCA trial team, then off for his procedure. I could sense the nervousness with him. But that was probably because I was a nervous wreck. But today was so important. This biopsy will tell if there are no cancer blasts in his bone marrow. Basically, did the new donor cells work?! We deeply feel that they absolutely did. But as a mama that has watched my son in the fight of his life, I still am very nervous about the results. So now we wait. The results typically take 5-7 days to be complete.

Everything else looks amazing with him! His hair is growing back in (looks super light compared to how it grew back last time), he has an appetite again (gained 2 pounds since last week), and he just looks amazing! All his labs are beautiful too ❤️

The team still wants him back once a week. So we are living part time in a hotel for now, which isn't fun, the babies make us crazy in here.... lol. Never a dull moment. Koah has a hip appointment tomorrow, so we had to stay an extra day. It is in Galveston, so 2 birds, one stone.

Anyway! We love y'all and lets pray for NO BLASTS!



If anyone wants to donate to help us with travel and medical bills, this is our GoFundMe. I can provide receipts for EVERY dollar spent! Or my Venmo is Alana-smith-33

https://gofund.me/c12ea99fa

05/25/2026

Day +96

Tomorrow is Kolten's first bone marrow biopsy since SCT. We need all the good vibes, prayers, healing juju, whatever, sent our way. This mama heart is worried sick. There is no pill or therapy that can calm you when you feel this anxiety 😞 But deep down, I know he is still cancer free 🫶

05/24/2026

05/23/2026

Thank you SO much to Chloe, Kim, the School of Rock in Conroe, and The Brand! We had an awesome benefit today! The weather got so wild, but we had a decent turnout! Thank you to everyone who came and bought stuff!

On our way back to the hotel, we stopped to pick up prescriptions. This is so crazy... look at these prices. 3 prescriptions. Oh well, at least my baby is here. You cannot put a price on his life, and I can always provide receipts for every penny donated 🫶

Thank you, again, for all the LOVE!

If you didn't get to come and care to donate to help us at all, this is our GoFundMe.... 🎗🎗🎗

https://gofund.me/bec219559