Somehow summer has already come and gone, and Eliana is now 13 years old and in 8th grade. Crazy how time keeps moving, even when it isn’t always so fun.

This summer, we were able to take a trip to Louisiana to spend time with family and friends. The kids got lots of time with their cousins, which was probably the best part for them. Those normal family moments mean a lot.

While we were there, Mark and Jenny Mestayer also organized a fundraiser for Eliana, which was incredibly kind and generous. Since this blog started as (& continues to be) a way to help support Eliana’s medical needs, I especially wanted to acknowledge them and everyone who continues to support her in so many different ways. We never take that kindness for granted.

We also attended the NephCure Patient Summit this summer. It is always nice to connect with the rare disease community and with families who understand so much of this without needing an explanation.

This year was especially meaningful because I was able to meet the family of the first DISOT trial patient, as well as the mom of another potential patient who may follow after Eliana. There is something very grounding about connecting with families who are walking different parts of the same very uncommon road.

Eliana also had a great time at Camp Independence through Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. I am so grateful she gets opportunities like that — a place where kids dealing with medical challenges can have fun, build independence, and just be kids around other people who understand.

And now she is officially an 8th grader.

She continues to impress us with the effort she puts into school. She is incredibly smart, determined, and capable, and she continues to excel even while balancing things most kids her age never have to think about. We are very proud of her.

And now… California is on the horizon.

Our next major step with Stanford is Eliana’s evaluation this October.

I have tortured myself over the timeline of all of this. I have questioned when the “right” time is, whether we should wait longer, whether we should move sooner, and just about every possible scenario in between.

Anyone who knows me knows that when I am making a major decision, I want every piece of information I can possibly get.

But at this point, I feel like this is the right time and the right choice.

It will not be easy. But I believe we can do this, especially with the incredible support we have from our family and friends.

At some point, you have to trust the process and hand some of it over to God.

Just one year ago, I was praying so hard for Eliana to have more time on peritoneal dialysis. I prayed for stability. I prayed that her body would give us more time.

And then she stabilized.

And, because I am me, once she stabilized I started questioning the Stanford timeline all over again.

If she is doing well, should we wait? Should we take more time? Should we gather more data?

The Stanford team believes there is a benefit to beginning this process from a stable place. And when you live with ESRD, you also know how quickly stability can change.

So the fact that Eliana is stable right now — and that we have the opportunity to take this next step while she is stable — is something I am trying to recognize as a blessing rather than a reason to delay.

If everything looks good during her evaluation, the current plan would be to head to Stanford in early January for the stem cell portion of treatment and the beginning of what will likely be a long stay in California.

That also means we are starting to think through all of the practical pieces that come with being away for an extended period of time. One of those may be finding someone we trust to foster our two dogs while we are gone. We are still figuring out exactly what that will look like, but if you know someone who truly loves dogs and may be open to helping, please keep us in mind.

It has been said that “hope is not a strategy,” and I agree with that.

I will continue working alongside the Stanford team as Eliana’s advocate. I will ask questions — probably a lot of them. I will make sure we have considered everything we reasonably can. I will turn over rocks when rocks need to be turned over. I will speak up when something does not make sense.

That is my job as her mom.

But I am also learning that there comes a point where you have done the research, asked the questions, weighed the risks, and made the best decision you can with the information you have.

And then what you need most is faith.

Faith that we are on the right path.

Faith that the doctors will have the knowledge and wisdom they need in every moment they are caring for her.

Faith for smooth treatment and swift recoveries.

Faith that each step will get us closer to where we have been trying to go for so long.

So if you pray, we would be so grateful if you would pray for Eliana and for all of us in the months ahead.

Please pray for peace during this time.

Pray for our faith when fear tries to take over.

Pray for wisdom and clarity for every doctor, nurse, and member of the Stanford team caring for her.

Pray that her body handles each step well and that her recoveries are swift.

And pray for strength for Eliana as she takes on something no 13-year-old should have to be this brave about.

Thank you for continuing to follow her story, pray for her, encourage us, support her, and love our family through all of this.

We feel it more than you know. ❤️