It’s hard to believe we’ve been here for six weeks already and completed 27 dives. The past few weeks have blurred together. 

After my family left, our friends Chip and Aes came for a week-long visit.  On the day they arrived, my dog Grommet badly jammed my finger, bringing my work to a standstill while it healed. That unexpected pause gave me space to think more intentionally about how we want to share our journey and progress. 

I’ve started building a website where we can post longer-form writing, videos, and photo updates — something more sustainable and less fragmented than scattered posts. It feels like the right next step. Stay tuned. 

While we’ve been here, Kelby has managed to work some, though between treatment schedules, travel, and daily life, it’s been limited. We’ve also run into a few of the very normal—but still hard—bumps that come with living on the road, including our truck breaking down recently. We’re hopeful it’s a quick fix. 

A lot of our conversations lately have centered on hyperbaric therapy — what we’re seeing versus what we expected. It’s still early, and the full benefit isn’t clear yet. I spoke with Hans at Dr. Harch’s, who shared that many times the most noticeable gains appear after treatment is complete, not always during it. 

Based on Torvin’s progress so far, their team believes he’s a good candidate for the long-term care program. The recommendation is to complete the initial 40 dives here in New Orleans, take one month off, and then continue treatment at home in our own chamber, with ongoing monitoring from Dr. Harch’s office to determine the best protocol for Torvin. 

The cost for a home chamber, installation, upkeep, and continued monitoring is $15,000. We’re carefully weighing this option, knowing it would require a real commitment of both time and resources — five days a week, 60 minutes in the tank, on top of 3–4 hours of ABR therapy. The questions feel endless: Are the gains legitimate? Are they sustainable? What is time worth? How does a parent place a monetary value on their child’s potential? 

In the meantime, Torvin keeps moving forward. He’s plowing ahead with his schoolwork. Math is where he thrives; language arts remains a challenge. One meaningful shift has been in his communication — he’s started asking things like, “What comes next?” and “What do I do now?” which is new for him. 

Physically, we’re seeing gains too. He’s building core strength and stability and can now stabilize a toy with one hand while manipulating it with the other in high kneeling. He’s spending longer stretches there than ever before. Two weeks ago, Kelby saw him put his foot in his mouth for the first time. More recently, he’s been pulling up to a stand, attempting to balance, and practicing how to fall safely on the bed — all small but meaningful steps forward. 

We’re continuing one step at a time, trusting that the right path for our little family will keep revealing itself. For those who feel called to support us — whether through donations, sharing our story, or leaving a kind word — thank you. Your support makes it possible for us to keep going.