Today, we celebrate an incredibly special little boy—Bowen. Our sweet, brave buddy, who may not look thrilled in his birthday pictures (and honestly, who can blame him after everything he’s been through?), is still shining brighter than ever. At just four years old, Bowen has faced more challenges than many of us will ever know, but he is the definition of resilience. This year, in particular, has tested him in ways that no child should have to endure, yet with every battle, Bowen proves that he is tougher than anyone could imagine. His strength, perseverance, and unwavering spirit are inspiring everyone around him.
Bowen’s fight against a rare form of brain cancer has been an uphill battle. Despite the difficult treatments, the countless hospital visits, and the never-ending obstacles, Bowen continues to push forward, defying expectations at every turn. His incredible journey is a testament to the power of love, hope, and the unbreakable bond of family.
At his side every step of the way are his amazing parents, Kelli and Joshua. Through sleepless nights and overwhelming medical procedures, their love for Bowen never falters. Kelli and Joshua are Bowen’s fiercest advocates, showing him the same strength and bravery that he shows every day. Their devotion to him is nothing short of inspiring. It’s the kind of love that moves mountains, and Bowen is fortunate to have such unwavering support.
As Bowen completed his 6th round of chemotherapy, there was both a sense of relief and an understanding of the tough road still ahead. The chemotherapy treatments have taken a toll on him, but he has remained steadfast in his fight, and his family is there to cheer him on every step of the way. Kelli shared that the next few weeks will be difficult for Bowen as he recovers from this round of treatment. While this period of recovery coincides with Bowen’s birthday, his family is doing everything they can to find moments of joy amid the struggle. Their focus is on Bowen’s bright smile, his infectious laughter, and his incredible resilience that has carried him through every hardship.
Bowen’s birthday this year is a bittersweet reminder of the battles he’s fought and the strength he’s shown. As he recovers, surrounded by the love of his parents and family, they’re holding onto the light that Bowen continues to bring into their lives. No matter the challenges, Bowen’s smile has the power to light up a room and remind everyone that there is always hope, even in the toughest of times.
While the journey ahead may still be long, there is no doubt in my mind that Bowen has an amazing future ahead of him. His courage, his strength, and his spirit are unmatched, and I know he will continue to fight with all the love he has in his heart. With each passing day, he grows stronger, and his family grows closer, united in their love for him.
As Bowen turns four, we all celebrate not just the milestone of another year, but the incredible warrior that he is. This year has been filled with challenges, but it has also been filled with so much love, laughter, and moments of joy. The support Bowen has received from his family, friends, and everyone who has followed his journey has been overwhelming. The outpouring of love for this sweet boy has been a reminder that even in the hardest times, community and compassion can make all the difference.
So today, as Bowen celebrates his fourth birthday, let’s send him all the love, strength, and positivity we can. May this year bring him even more victories, more smiles, and of course, a lot more chicken nuggets! Bowen deserves all the goodness the world has to offer, and I truly believe there are brighter days ahead for him.
Happy birthday, Bowen! You are a true hero, and you continue to inspire everyone around you. Your strength, perseverance, and incredible spirit are a gift to this world. We can’t wait to see all the beautiful things that lie ahead for you. Wishing you the best year yet, filled with love, laughter, and an endless supply of chicken nuggets! 🎉💙🍗
Heart Month – Day 11: Parents Don’t Just Watch. We Fight..3001
No one can prepare you for the overwhelming, gut-wrenching experience of becoming your child’s voice, especially when you feel like you can barely hold yourself together. It’s a feeling that stretches beyond anything you could ever imagine. It’s not just the fear of seeing your child in pain—it’s the raw reality of having to advocate for them when your heart is shattering, when every word feels like it takes everything you have to stay strong.
When people walk into a hospital, they see the doctors, the machines, and the treatment plans on paper. They see the physical battle being fought. But they don’t see the parent standing in the corner, trying to steady their breath, holding their heart in their chest while fifteen people discuss your child like they are nothing more than a case study. There’s a part of you that wishes you could hide from it all, but there’s no time to hide. You learn quickly that it’s not just about your child—it’s about you stepping up, even when you’re barely holding it all together.
You learn to nod. You learn to listen. You learn to stand in a room full of experts, holding back tears, nodding while your chest feels like it’s caving in. You hear the words you never wanted to understand, words that feel foreign and cold. You try to breathe through it, and yet the weight of the situation presses down on you, making every second feel like an eternity.
You learn how to ask questions. You speak through a voice that shakes because you know that if you don’t ask those questions, if you don’t advocate for your child in this moment, then who will? Advocacy isn’t just a task—it’s a fight for survival. It’s a fight for your child’s life.
For Brinley, advocating wasn’t about bravery. It was about surviving each round of discussions, each conversation where the experts spoke in terms you couldn’t quite grasp, while you pretended to understand it all. You sit there, feeling small and insignificant, but you push forward, pretending that you are strong enough to handle it.
But you can’t. There are times when it feels like the world is crashing down around you, when the weight of the situation is too much to bear. In the quiet moments, you Google words in the hallway—words that you never wanted to learn. You search for meaning, for hope, for understanding, because the unknown is the hardest thing to fight.
There is a grief that lives within hospital parents. It’s a grief that never truly leaves. The grief of seeing your baby in pain, of watching them suffer and feeling helpless. The grief of not being able to fix it, not being able to make everything right. No amount of love or hope can change that reality. And that is one of the hardest things to bear.
Heart Month talks a lot about strength—the strength to endure, the strength to fight. But sometimes, strength doesn’t look like the powerful, unwavering figure we imagine it to be. Sometimes, strength is raw. It’s the quiet moments when you sit on a hospital couch at 3 a.m., staring at the monitors, whispering “please” over and over, because that’s all you have left. You hold on to that fragile thread of hope because you have to. You fight with everything you have left, even if it feels like your strength is running out.
Today, this post isn’t polished. Today, it’s not about perfection. Today is about being raw. It’s about showing up for the parents who became warriors because they didn’t have another choice. It’s about the parents who wake up every day, unsure of what they’ll face, but still stand strong for their children, even when everything else seems impossible.
Brinley changed us forever. And some days, the weight of that change is almost too much to carry. But we carry it anyway. Because we are parents, and even when we feel broken, we fight. We fight because we have no other choice. We fight for our children, for their future, for their lives. And in those moments of raw vulnerability, we find a strength we never knew we had.
So today, let’s recognize that strength doesn’t always look the way we expect. It’s not always loud or obvious. Sometimes, it’s quiet. Sometimes, it’s in the whispers, the tears, and the quiet courage that carries us through. For all the parents fighting in silence, for all the families navigating this difficult journey, you are not alone. Your strength is a quiet, powerful force that deserves to be acknowledged, and today, we stand with you.
We stand with Brinley. We stand with every child who is fighting, every parent who is standing strong when their world feels like it’s falling apart. We see you. We honor your strength. And we will continue to fight alongside you, every step of the way.
