Hi Friends,
It's a relief to share that Callan successfully completed his last intensive treatment phase last Friday, 5/24! To celebrate this milestone, the amazing team at Children's decorated and we brought in cake.  Having Grandma Netta join the celebration was special as she has been such an incredible support for us all on this journey since day one.  Prior to this, I had no idea how incredibly hard and socially isolating cancer can be on the individual and family. The past nine months have been surreal and it feels good to finally reach this point.

The plan is for Callan to now "graduate" into longer-term maintenance treatment beginning June 3rd. It's hard to fathom, but evidence-based treatment for pediatric leukemia generally lasts about 2-3 years. Thankfully, his team at Children's tells us that things should start getting easier soon. Treatment continues but is much less intense, his hair will grow back, and he can start doing "normal" things again. Honestly, we can't wait to  spend more time with friends and family, work on regaining strength and overall conditioning (one of Callan's main goals is to be able to keep up with his friends again), and heal both physically and emotionally.

A special shout-out to the friends, family, and community members who continually reach out. Your love and support carry us through the hard days, help Callan and our family remain included, and provide such hope for brighter days ahead. The teachers and staff at Hudson Middle School have also done an amazing job with home-based learning, accommodations, and system navigation. Callan cannot wait to return to school in person for 7th grade and thanks to their excellence, he is in good shape academically.

Your ongoing prayers and positive messages are welcome as we continue the journey toward health and wellness.

CallanStrong❤️