07/24/2026
Long post loading…….
Today was Addy’s second infusion.
Before we started, we talked with her team about some bleeding issues she’s been having. Her platelets weren’t at a critical level, but they were low enough, especially with the symptoms she was experiencing, that her doctors felt a transfusion was necessary.
Before receiving her platelets, Addy was given Tylenol, Kytril for nausea, Benadryl, and a steroid. And then, just like that, our girl was out for the next three hours.
I sat there and watched her sleep. And I couldn’t help but think about how incredibly unfair it is that this is her normal.
While other kids her age are spending their summers swimming, going to sleepovers, making memories, and just being kids… my child is sleeping in a hospital bed while her body fights a disease she never asked for.
By the time she woke up, all of her medications and transfusions were finished. We just needed to stay for monitoring before we could finally head home.
And thankfully, today brought some good news.
Her labs looked really good. Her electrolytes were all normal. Her liver enzymes are trending down. Her WBC and ANC both increased slightly. Her weight dropped a few pounds since Monday, which we really can't explain because this girl can PUT AWAY some food!
As soon as we left the hospital, she was HANGRY and had herself a gas station hot dog (I know… not exactly the most nutritious choice, but when your kid has been through what she has, sometimes you just let them eat the dang hot dog), followed by an orange chicken bowl from Panda Express.
And honestly? I loved every second of watching her eat.
Because these are the moments I hold onto.
The normal moments.
The silly moments.
The moments where she's just a kid who is starving after a long day at the hospital.
With her electrolytes looking great, her oncologist isn't concerned about the weight loss right now, so we are taking the win.
We have one more infusion next week, followed by a bone marrow biopsy the week after. We found out today that she will then have three more infusions after her biopsy.
She is handling this treatment so incredibly well, and for that, I am beyond grateful. The low blood counts are still a battle, but somehow, through all of this, she continues to amaze us with just how strong she is.
And then there are all of you.
The people who have shown up for our family in ways we could have never imagined.
Jena, thank you for the amazing lasagna dinner you dropped off this week. You helped make one of our hard days just a little easier.
Sarah and the ladies at Bedico Baptist, thank you for the huge boxes of snacks and gifts. The thought and love behind every single thing meant more than you know.
Donna, thank you for the beautiful blankets that brought comfort to our girl.
Mona, thank you for the sweetest surprise. Addy wears her necklace every single day, and I can't tell you how much that means to us.
And to every single person who prays for her, checks on her, sends messages, brings meals, sends gifts, shares her story, or simply thinks about our girl when you're going about your day…
Thank you.
There is no way we could walk through this without you.
Having Addy here with us today—sitting beside me, eating her Panda Express, laughing, complaining about being hungry, and being her wonderfully stubborn self—puts everything into perspective.
Because while I was sitting in that hospital room today, I was also thinking about a 15-year-old boy from Alabama named Will Roberts, who lost his fight with cancer this morning.
I thought about his family.
His parents and sister.
The empty space he leaves behind.
I thought about the three moms I know who have already had to bury their babies because of this horrible disease.
And suddenly, the fear of Addy’s biopsy, the next lab draw, the next infusion… it all feels different.
Because the truth is, we know how fragile this is.
We know how quickly everything can change.
We know that there are no guarantees.
And that knowledge makes me want to hold her tighter.
Kiss her longer.
Listen to her stories.
Laugh at the silly things.
Say yes to the gas station hot dog.
Take the pictures.
Make the memories.
And never, ever take another second for granted.
I don't know what the future holds.
But I choose to believe with everything in me that one day, Addy will be fully healed.
One day, we will look back at these years and remember how hard they were, but they will be behind us.
One day, cancer will no longer be the first thing we think about when we wake up.
One day, we will get to watch our girl grow up and chase every dream she has.
Until that day comes, we will keep fighting.
We will keep praying.
We will keep advocating.
We will keep believing.
And we will keep fighting not only for our girl, but for every child and every family who is walking this same heartbreaking road.
Because no child should have to fight for their life.
No parent should have to wonder if they'll get to watch their baby grow up.
And no family should ever have to hear the words, “I'm sorry, there's nothing more we can do."
So tonight, I am choosing gratitude.
For good labs.
For decreasing liver enzymes.
For a girl who is still eating, laughing, fighting, and living.
For every prayer.
For every act of kindness.
For every person standing beside us.
And most of all, for more time.
Because right now, having my girl here with me is everything.
And I will never take that for granted.
Keep fighting, baby girl. Mommy believes in you with every single piece of her heart. 🩷
