It’s been a little bit since our last update, and that’s actually a good thing.

For the first time since Dana’s diagnosis, we’ve found something that feels like a rhythm. A routine. Even a sense of normalcy. We’ve gotten back to living our lives - laughing, parenting, planning, and appreciating the everyday moments a little more deeply than we ever did before. At the same time, cancer hasn’t left the room. It’s still there… a quiet presence, our “dark passenger,” reminding us to hold each moment a little tighter.

Dana is continuing her fight with incredible strength as part of the clinical trial at Duke. She has now completed two perilymphatic injections, and we’ve officially entered what will be our “new normal”: a monthly cycle of trips to Duke for bloodwork, MRIs, consultations, and treatment. Each visit is quick - just a day or two - but the emotional weight of waiting for those MRI results at the end of every month is something we carry deeply. We hold our breath, lean on faith, and hope for the best each time.

The first injection showed a strong response, which gave us so much encouragement. The second was much more manageable, just as the Duke team expected. Aside from a bit of tingling in Dana’s right foot - which turned out to be a magnesium deficiency and not related - she handled it like a champ.

This stage of the journey also marks a big step for our family. Dana will now be traveling to Duke on her own for treatments. It’s not an easy shift, but it’s an important one. It gives her the space to step into this with confidence and strength, and it allows me to stay home with Evan so he can have one of his parents with him consistently again. Of course, I’ll still be right there with her - on FaceTime, asking questions, advocating, and supporting her every step of the way.

This is our life now. And it will be for the next year as we continue forward, one month, one scan, one step at a time.

We’re so grateful for the love, prayers, and support that have carried us this far. Truly, it means everything to our family.

If you feel called to help, we are continuing to manage the costs of monthly travel, lodging, and ongoing medical expenses. Even a small contribution makes a meaningful difference for us as we navigate this path.

You can support us through this site.

Thank you for standing with us, for loving Dana, and for helping us keep moving forward - together. ❤️