August 16, 2026 Update

Today brought a mix of medical updates, but Austin is continuing to push forward!

Due to his elevated white blood cell count, the team ran a culture that came back positive for Serratia marcescens (a bacterial infection). They have already started him on antibiotics to target and clear this up.

On the care front, he is currently scheduled for physical/occupational therapy three days a week on weekdays. The drain tube in his head is doing its job and actively removing fluid. Plus, his GI tract is still working—there was more poop in the bag today (following up on yesterday's update!), which is always a great sign!

Today's Encouraging Movements:

-He showed a little more movement in his left thumb this morning!

-He continues to move his left foot and big toe.

We aren't seeing much movement on his right side just yet, but we are holding onto hope that as the swelling and fluid decrease, those movements will start coming, too! 🤞🏼🙏🏼

We are so thankful for the continued prayers, love, and positive thoughts sent his way.

Please continue to check this page daily for updates and feel free to share it with others. Following along here is immensely helpful, as it allows the family to keep everyone informed while focusing their time and energy on Austin and each other during this unimaginable time.