Ava’s Journey

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Ava’s Journey

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Ava’s fight against B cell acute lymphatic leukemia. Follow along as we navigate a new normal.

This battle will take all the prayers and support possible. ❤️‍🩹💝🎗️🎀

10/29/2026

Delayed intensification has definitely reared its ugly head with the “roid rage” and extreme highs and lows.

So far in this phase, Ava has had 6 rounds of chemo in 7 days. Her counts are on track right now, so we will continue on. She will have a week off of steroids before starting back next Wednesday along with 2 more chemos. 🎗️

Ava has been so fascinated with Halloween this year, so we decorated big time inside and out! We've been trying to give her as much time as possible wearing her “Rumi” costume since we truly seem to live day by day right now. 👻

Caffeine and exhaustion have become our norm around here. Hellos, love yous, and goodnights have also been tiny blips in passing. While I wouldn’t trade a minute of Ava’s needs and wants, it is incredibly difficult to miss out on moments with bubba. Missing award banquets, opportunities to volunteer at his school, and his new sports adventures have become another painful norm in this phase.

I know there is a means to somewhat of an end, but I know I can never make up for this missed time. Sometimes this diagnosis becomes so isolating for each of us… 😞 Please keep lifting our family up.

10/21/2026

-Echo scan ✔️
- pentamidine ✔️
- Lumbar Puncture with chemo ✔️
-vincristine ✔️
-doxorubicin (red devil) ✔️
7 hours at Children’s 🫩😮‍💨

Ava is doing good considering what her day has consisted of. We return to clinic this Friday for 2 more chemos.

10/15/2026

Got a great surprise today! I counted wrong on blina bags which means Ava was de-accessed today!! 🥰

This means lots and lots of baths because her love for water is unmatched! And it means we have 6 days and some hours to make the most of life.

While today was an exciting day to finish another block, it also put us so much closer to a very rough block.

My “happy” tears were just…lies. They were tears of anxiety, fear, sadness, and a little bit of anger. 😢 I know delayed intensification is that last push of taking her body to the brink of death to ensure no cancer cells survive, but it doesn’t make it easier. Knowing her and brother’s birthdays, thanksgiving, and even Christmas will not look the same is gut wrenching.

The next few months will be tough between the multiple treatments and/or inpatient stays every week. Please be patient with me on updates and responses. I am going to soak up as much of her joy the next 6 days.

10/09/2026

Clinic Wednesday 10.7:

Everything went as planned. Her Starbucks lady hooked her up with a cup of whipped cream. We played at the playground for a couple hours. Ava got her next bag of Blina and no hiccups.

Her numbers continue to trickle down, but she is napping more and getting tired faster so not shocked by that.

I haven’t cried at clinic in a while, but it was emotionally rough. Took 3 of us to hold Ava to change bandage and port needle. She kept screaming, “Mommy, please help me. I am a baby. Please mommy, you are supposed to help me.”

Nonetheless, we walked out of there like it was a normal day. She napped all the way home, and is back to trying new karate moves.

10/01/2026

We definitely didn't expect to close out Childhood Cancer Awareness Month sitting in a clinic room today, but this is the unfiltered truth of our reality. 🎗️

Today was a long Wednesday because Ava had a bag change of immunotherapy. She did so well, and thankfully, her numbers are looking good. Even so, her exhaustion is very real. Her little body is just so tired, so we are getting closer to seeing her back at lower levels. We just have 3 more bag changes left before we enter the next phase.

Childhood cancer isn’t rare. It’s just not talked about or spotlighted the way it should be. Ava’s fight doesn't end just because September is over, and she won't be doing it alone—she stands shoulder-to-shoulder with an entire army of little warriors.

Even though this awareness month is ending, please remember that every single day, more families are getting the life-altering news: “It’s cancer.” Keep fighting, Ava, and keep sharing the gold. 💛

09/29/2026

Slipped my mind to post last week, so figured I would get this in before clinic this week.

Ava has done well on Blina so far. Definitely see a big difference in this block versus the first. The first block she was nonstop, literally jumping from the top of the couch. 🫠🫣

This block she has a couple hours of energy, and then drops quickly. She has gone from no naps for the past few months to 2-3 a day. Ava is still happy go lucky, but her body is becoming more tired 😪.

We did have to make an extra run to children’s last week because someone…cough….Ava…decided it would be a great idea to attempt some karate moves and a body slam. This jarred the pump causing the internal cassette to short out, so a 3 hour round trip ordeal to get that fixed! And not to mention the nonstop beeping 😒.

Last week was exhausting, hence why I am playing catchup….🤷🏼‍♀️🫣.

09/17/2026

Tonight, I’m incredibly grateful to be home with my family—but my heart is heavy knowing how many families are spending tonight in oncology wards. 🎗️😢

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, but the silence around it is deafening. October's campaigns are already taking over, while our kids are barely getting a mention. Why is the support for childhood cancer so quiet?

I’ve been reflecting on my own past indifference, and it’s a tough pill to swallow. It’s so easy to say "how sad" and move on with our comfortable lives. But these children and their families don't have the luxury of moving on.

If you love a child, please ask yourself: What would you do if it were them? How desperate would you be for a cure?

We cannot wait until a tragedy hits close to home to start caring. Let’s show up for these families now, because no parent should have to fight this alone. 💛

09/15/2026

Our view for the next few days…at least she does not need IVIG this time! 5 weeks of a backpack…🎗️🎒

Donations for hematology kids!
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3OT9QGRMGAH06?ref_=wl_share

Address

Rose Bud, AR
72137

Telephone

+18708196676

Website

https://www.caringbridge.org/

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