Time has passed, and we have an update.
PJ traveled to Stanford for his evaluation, and we received good news—he checked all the boxes. This means we are able to move forward. If all continues as planned, we are now looking at early August to begin the next phase.
Saying that out loud makes it feel very real.
I’ll be honest—I am a nervous wreck. The kind where sleep doesn’t really come anymore because your brain just won’t turn off. I keep asking myself the same questions on repeat…
Is now the right time to rock the boat?
Is the risk worth the reward?
What if the drugs cause long-term effects?
What if we go through all of this, and something like an artificial kidney becomes available right after?
But then the other side creeps in… what if we wait, and she isn’t healthy enough later to get through this? What if waiting makes the risks even greater?
There doesn’t feel like a “right” answer—just a decision that has to be made.
And in the middle of all of this is our family.
My heart physically aches when I think about being away from Parker. There is no version of this where that part feels okay.
And then there’s Eliana.
She now knows the full truth about what’s ahead. Telling her was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. Hearing it myself was a gut punch… and then having to turn around and deliver that same gut punch to her—explaining the reality of chemo and what it can do—there really aren’t words for that.
The surprising part? She may be handling it better than I am.
Kids have this way of absorbing hard things with a kind of quiet strength that adults struggle to match. That doesn’t mean it isn’t heavy—it just means she’s carrying it in her own way.
Right now, we are taking this one step at a time. We have a direction, even if it comes with a lot of unknowns and a lot of fear.
As we prepare for what’s ahead—including extended time in California and the realities that come with it—we are reminded again how much support matters. Whether that’s through prayers, sharing our story, or helping ease the financial burden that comes with this journey, every bit truly makes a difference for our family.
We are so grateful for the love that continues to surround us. We will keep sharing updates as we move forward.
—Arielle
