The Next Chapter - Immunotherapy

Tomorrow EvanMarie begins her first round of immunotherapy, the next major step in her treatment for high-risk neuroblastoma. Six days inpatient and twenty-two days at home. This will become our new rhythm for the next five months as we continue trusting God one day at a time.

As always, our little warrior princess is walking into the hospital with remarkable courage, and enough joy to brighten the hematology-oncology halls at TCH once again. She continues to remind us that hope is not just something we talk about, it is path we follow everyday. Her hope inspires us.

Many people have asked us what immunotherapy actually is. Simply, it helps train her body’s own immune system to recognize and attack any remaining neuroblastoma cells. What makes this especially wild is that this treatment is really new. It was approved specifically for children with high-risk neuroblastoma only about a decade ago, in 2015. Countless badass parents who refused to give up, generous foundations, dedicated researchers, physicians, and children who participated in clinical trials made this all possible. Because of their perseverance, EvanMarie and other precious children like her, now have access to a treatment that simply did not exist for earlier generations. We are profoundly grateful.

As we begin this next chapter, we ask for your prayers once again. Please pray that this treatment is both effective and gentle, that it strengthens EvanMarie’s body, destroys any remaining cancer cells, and continues the healing that God has already begun. Please also pray for us, her parents and siblings as we navigate another logistically challenging time. 

Many of you have asked how you can help in practical ways. One of the greatest gifts during these hospital stays, honestly, has been DoorDash gift cards. They allow us to order healthy meals or groceries, when hospital options are most unhealthy, and they also help provide easy dinners for our children at home while Cana and I are with EvanMarie. These and many of the selfless acts of generosity from our community have been an incredible blessing to our family. 

Thank you, Team EvanMarie (!!!) for walking this road with us. We have never ever felt alone. We move forward into this next phase with hopeful hearts, grateful for how far we’ve come, and with complete confidence that God, the Divine Physician, loves her and us more than we can ever know.

Glory to God in all things.

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