Hello, dear friends, family, and prayer warriors,
On February 12, our world changed forever. Our 8-year-old son, John, was diagnosed with Burkitt leukemia — a fast-growing cancer of the blood.
Just weeks earlier, John had started feeling sick. At first, it seemed like something routine — strep throat, then what we thought was the flu. But even after antibiotics, he kept vomiting and couldn’t keep anything down. When we returned to the doctor, expecting nausea medicine, we were shocked to learn he had lost 10 pounds in a single week. Bloodwork was ordered, and from that moment on, everything moved fast.
He was admitted to the ER for fluids. Then we were told his kidneys weren’t functioning properly. Within hours, there was talk of Des Moines, then Blank Children’s, and suddenly a life flight to Iowa City. I made it to the hospital just minutes before the helicopter arrived and was able to ride with John to Iowa City while Chuck followed by car.
At the University of Iowa, we learned that normal kidney function is a 1 — John’s was at an 8. He was rushed into surgery to have a dialysis port placed in his chest and immediately started dialysis. At the same time, they placed a PICC line, ran extensive labs, and began searching for answers.
Then came the words no parent is ever prepared to hear: cancer.
We were stunned. Heartbroken. Terrified. And yet, incredibly grateful the doctors told us we brought him in at exactly the right time.
John is now under the incredible care of the team at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital. The PICU staff has been extraordinary — explaining everything to John and including him in every step. He truly is in the best place possible.
A Roller Coaster of Progress and Setbacks
By the grace of God and the skill of his doctors, John’s kidneys began showing significant improvement. We were able to leave the ICU and move to the children’s cancer unit — a huge milestone for us.
Eventually, all of his IVs were removed. He still has his PICC line for chemotherapy and medications. His dialysis port was kept in place temporarily in case chemo strained his kidneys again.
Then we hit another hurdle.
John spiked a fever overnight. Tests revealed bacteria growing in his dialysis port. The port was removed, and cultures showed E. coli. We had to wait anxiously to learn whether the infection had spread to his bloodstream or PICC line. Thankfully, at the first sign of fever, doctors started two antibiotics — and they turned out to be exactly the right ones. He also received an injection to help his body produce more white blood cells so he can fight infection and heal faster.
Through it all, his kidneys have continued to improve — something we are so incredibly thankful for.
The Effects of Chemotherapy
John is fighting so hard.
Chemotherapy has brought difficult side effects. He developed painful mouth and throat sores, which made eating almost impossible. Because of the pain and loss of appetite, doctors placed an NG (nasogastric) tube — a small tube through his nose into his stomach — so he can receive nutrition, fluids, and medications directly. This ensures his body stays strong enough to keep fighting.
He has also experienced high blood pressure and severe headaches during blood transfusions. His team continues running labs and adjusting his care plan to manage these complications.
Even on the hardest days, John remains incredibly brave. He chose to tell his siblings about his sickness himself. He doesn’t like the words “cancer” or “leukemia,” so around him we call it “his sickness.” That helps him feel less afraid, and we deeply appreciate everyone honoring that.
The Road Ahead
We have now been given a rough treatment timeline: six months.
After this initial hospital stay, the plan is:
Two weeks at home
One week back in the hospital for chemotherapy
Repeat this cycle for six months
Because his immune system is so weak, his siblings are not allowed to visit him in the hospital. That separation has been one of the hardest parts for our family.
As many of you know, I work outside the home and Chuck stays home with our children. Right now, I am off work to be in Iowa City with John, while Chuck travels back and forth to visit the other children. We are beyond grateful for Grandma Sheila, who has stepped in to help hold our home together.
The funds raised will help with:
Travel between home and the hospital
Lost income while I am off work
Household bills and daily expenses
Food while staying at the hospital
Care for our other children
Your generosity allows us to focus on what matters most — helping John heal and keeping our family together.
Thank You
We cannot begin to express our gratitude.
Thank you for flooding Heaven with your prayers.
Thank you for every donation.
Thank you for every message, meal, and act of kindness.
The love and support surrounding our family is overwhelming in the best possible way.
We know we have a long road ahead, but we also know we are not walking it alone.
Please continue praying for:
Protection from infection
Strength through chemotherapy
Complete kidney recovery
Peace for John and his siblings
Endurance for our family
John is strong. He is brave. And we believe with all our hearts that this path will lead to healing.
From the bottom of our hearts — thank you.