August 19, 2025

This is a hard update to write. The past few days have been incredibly difficult.

We started round 2 of chemo with lots of hope. Erma was so excited for our “Taylor Swift party” as we decorated her hospital room with all things Taylor! We had some sweet moments of making keychains, handing our bracelets, singing Taylor swift with the music therapist, and even celebrating her amazing accomplishment of learning to swallow pills at just 4 years old (of course while dancing to Welcome to New York!).

But alongside those highs have come some very heavy lows. Erma began a new daily oral chemo that targets her specific gene mutation that is driving her cancer, one she may need to take for a long time. Sadly, it has brought hard side effects of anger, irritability, and extreme agitation. Our once bubbly, sassy, sweet girl feels so weighed down, and it breaks our hearts. We even had to help her through a large panic attack and two hospital interventions this week. We feel like we’re grieving parts of her joyful spirit and it feels too heavy for us.

I never know how much to share, but I know right now that we need prayer.

Please pray for Erma’s spirit and that her body adjusts to this medicine and she can feel like her happy, wild self again.
 Please pray for strength, peace, and compassion for Caleb and me as we walk through this season. This is the hardest thing we've ever had to do. 
 Please pray for courage for Erma as she endures a large shot in her leg every day this week as we prepare for stem cell harvesting.

I’ve tried to keep things positive, but the truth is these past few days have been filled with anxiety, tears, and fear. We know God is with us, but this season is heavy. Please cover us in prayer.