For Braxton Cole

In October 2024, our world changed when my son Braxton, then 10 years old, was diagnosed with Stage 3, Group 3, FOXO1-positive alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma.

What followed was a journey no child should ever have to experience. Braxton went through chemotherapy, radiation, procedures, hospital stays, countless appointments, and eventually maintenance treatment. He faced more in that time than most people will face in a lifetime, and through all of it, he continued to be Braxton.

In February 2026, he finally finished treatment. And was able to ring the bell in March 2026.

For the next several months, we slowly started putting our lives back together. His hair grew back. He went back to school. He spent time with his brothers and friends. He got to enjoy summer. He got to simply be a kid again.

And after living from scan to scan for so long, we finally started allowing ourselves to breathe a little.

Then his most recent scans changed everything.

We now know that cancer is present in Braxton’s body again.

There are still questions we don’t have answers to yet. We are waiting on additional testing, including a biopsy, and will know much more about exactly what we’re facing and what treatment will look like after meeting with his oncology team on October 13.

Facing cancer for a second time feels different. The first time, we were terrified of the unknown. This time, we’re terrified because we know what treatment can take from him. We know the hospital stays, the medications, the exhaustion, the appointments, the long drives, the sleepless nights, and the days when being his mom means wishing more than anything that I could take his place.

But we also know how strong Braxton is.

As his mom and primary caregiver, my priority has to be Braxton and his two brothers. I will once again need to step away from work so I can be there for appointments, procedures, treatment, hospital stays, and whatever this next chapter brings.

I created this GoFundMe because this time, I know I cannot carry everything by myself.

Donations will help keep our household stable while I care for Braxton, including our regular household expenses, groceries and meals, gas and transportation for frequent hospital trips, medical related expenses, and the many unexpected costs that come along with having a child in treatment.

Just as importantly, I want to protect as much normalcy as possible for all three of my boys. Cancer affects an entire family. There will be so much that revolves around Braxton’s treatment again, but I still want my boys to have birthdays, school activities, sports, time with friends, laughter, and moments when cancer isn’t the center of their world.

Braxton has never wanted cancer to define him. He’s a 12 year old kid who wants people to talk to him about the things he loves, laugh with him, and treat him like Braxton not just “the kid with cancer.”

That’s what I want to protect for him throughout this next fight.

If you’re able to donate, thank you. If you can’t, sharing Braxton’s story and keeping him, his brothers, and our family in your prayers means more than you know.

We don’t have every answer yet, but we’ll continue taking this one day at a time, together.

And whatever comes next, Braxton will never face it alone. ️