I haven’t shared a Benny update in a few weeks — honestly, I’ve been enjoying a slower travel few weeks 😆

…but our busy starts back up tomorrow, so I wanted to check in with you all.

Tomorrow marks 11 weeks since Benny’s stem cell treatment, and truly — we’ve seen so much progress.

We’ve also had setbacks.

I like to call it riding the waves.

Since leaving Arizona, we’ve been able to take Benny off gabapentin and lactulose.

Here’s what that looks like:

Gabapentin helped calm Benny’s nervous system and reduce discomfort, but it also desensitizes the body — including the GI tract. Now that he’s off it, his system is waking back up, which means we’re seeing heightened sensitivity and vomiting again. While hard to watch, this is actually part of his body learning to feel and regulate again.

Lactulose was supporting his bowels — and praise God, Benny is now stooling regularly and easily on his own. Such a huge win.

Because his GI system is more reactive right now, we’ve added cromolyn sodium, which helps stabilize mast cells and calm inflammatory responses in the gut. This one takes time to build up in his system — so we’re being patient and trusting the process.

Healing isn’t linear. It’s layers. It’s timing. It’s faith.

And speaking of progress…

✨ Benny’s cognition has improved — we’re seeing more cause and effect.

✨ He’s gently holding on with his hands when we pick him up.

✨ He’s responding to cues like “more” and “go.”

✨ He’s pushing the ball when prompted.

✨ He loved water therapy, so we’ve revamped bath time and it’s going so much better.

✨ He’s smiling often — and we swear we’ve heard a few laughs. 🥹

Next week Benny starts a DMI intensive, and the following two weeks we’ll be doing daily hyperbaric oxygen therapy, right up until we head back to Arizona to see his stem cell doctor again.

While we’re there, Benny will receive PRP (platelet-rich plasma).

PRP uses Benny’s own blood. His platelets are spun down and concentrated so they’re rich in growth factors — the natural healing signals God already placed inside his body. Those growth factors help support tissue repair, calm inflammation, and encourage communication within the nervous system.

In neurological applications, PRP is believed to help “wake up” or stimulate dormant or under-functioning cells, including cells within the central nervous system and those circulating in the cerebrospinal fluid. The goal is to boost those cells to keep the progress coming! And the best part this is part of our original payment we made for stem cell!! So thank you all for making this happen!!! 

After that:

• We have an intensive planned in Indiana in May for two weeks just before summer 

• We were recently invited to another intensive coming to Kansas City in April (we’re praying hard we can financially make it happen)

• I’m also working to get Benny into a feeding intensive — hopefully in 2026 

And on top of all of this…

We’re praying a committee picks it up soon. God has carried this every step of the way.

More than anything…

Thank you.

Thank you for your prayers.

Thank you for your messages.

Thank you for loving our boy.

This road is not one we ever imagined walking — but we believe with everything in us that God is still writing Benny’s story.

We’re taking it one wave at a time.

One therapy at a time.

One miracle at a time.

With faith, hope, and so much love🐝