On October 7, 2025, our lives changed in a way we never could have imagined. Our son, Rhett, was admitted to the hospital for a severely distended belly — something that seemed simple at first but quickly turned into weeks of uncertainty, testing, and fear.

It took over a month to finally get answers. On Halloween, Rhett underwent surgery to have his spleen removed, a moment that marked just the beginning of a journey we never expected to walk.

In December, after a bone marrow biopsy, Rhett began chemotherapy. We held onto hope while navigating a new reality filled with hospital stays, treatments, and learning how to be strong even when we felt anything but.

Then in February, after his second bone marrow biopsy, we received the diagnosis: JMML — a rare and aggressive form of leukemia.

Right now, we are in a season of waiting. We are awaiting results from a genetic panel that will help determine the next steps in Rhett’s treatment — whether that means a bone marrow transplant or continuing chemotherapy for the next year.

We're choosing to stand alongside other families facing battles like ours. We will be participating in the ASK 5K to help support families who are going through very real and similar journeys — because no one should have to walk this road alone.