09.24.25 update 
This morning brought the hardest goodbye yet as Donald travels back home. Our hearts feel so heavy and we are leaning on the Lord more than ever.
We have some specific prayer requests:
Branson’s adenovirus levels will come down
That his new immune system will strengthen quickly and begin fighting this virus
That his counts will continue to rise and not decrease anymore
That God will ease his pain and bring him comfort
That his vision will be restored and his appetite will return
Mucositis will subside
That peace and comfort beyond understanding will cover Branson and our entire family
That God will continue to show miracles through Branson’s story, drawing even nonbelievers closer to Him
That Donald and I will remain strong and positive through these next few months apart
Safe travels as Donald travels home
Thank you for lifting these prayers, we believe each one makes a difference.
09.21.25 update
Today’s abdominal ultrasound revealed that Branson’s spleen is enlarged and his intestines are inflamed, which is what’s causing the severe abdominal pain. His WBC count dropped again and is currently at 1,200. He still has no appetite and can barely keep water down. His vision remains the same, with no changes. He is still incredibly miserable and that is never the kind of update I want to give.
Last night they infused my lymphocytes into him. The way the doctors explained it is to think of it like giving him an antibiotic…it isn’t instant, but rather something that needs time to build up in his system to start fighting the virus. They said it could take 10-14 days, maybe even longer, before we start to see any effect and that’s all dependent on how Branson’s body responds. The goal is that these cells recognize and attack the adenovirus, helping him turn the corner.
We’re doing our best to soak up these last days with Donald here and holding tight to the hope that the uphill turn is just around the corner.
Thank you for the continued love, support and prayers. Truly, thank you will never be sufficient enough to express our gratitude but just know we are forever grateful and not a single ounce of support goes unnoticed. We love you guys.
09.19.25 update
I know it’s been a few days since I’ve updated and truthfully, I just haven’t had the mental capacity. I know so many of you wait for updates and I’m sorry for the silence. It’s just so hard to share when things are not going well.
Branson is in excruciating pain. It’s hard to even put into words the level of suffering he’s in right now and even harder to sit back and watch helplessly. He’s on morphine around the clock but even that barely touches what his little body is feeling. Every part of this journey has brought its own challenges, but post bone marrow transplant has BY FAR been the hardest and darkest chapter yet. I pray the light at the end of this tunnel is near because no child deserves this kind of pain.
His vision remains the same with no changes. His white blood cell count has started to slowly rise again and is up to 1,200 today, which is a positive. But his adenovirus levels are now at 12 MILLION. This morning I got a call from Donald and the doctors telling me to get to the hospital right away that they needed to take my lymphocytes again since mine are strong enough to fight off the virus. They took them this morning, they’ll incubate them overnight and tomorrow they’ll infuse them into Branson. The doctors explained that it can take about four weeks for these cells to kick in and start fighting the virus, so please be praying that they do exactly that.
Right now, Branson is receiving the only medication available for this virus, but it hasn’t been responding the way the doctors hoped. On top of that, the medicine can cause kidney damage if used too heavily. That’s why they went ahead with the lymphocyte collection because it’s his best shot at fighting this off. The doctors did say that clinically, aside from the adenovirus, Branson is doing “okay.” His sepsis is much, much better, and we are so thankful for that victory. But it truly feels like every day brings on a new challenge for his body to face.
Donald will be leaving us soon and the thought of being this far from home without his support is overwhelming. At the same time, I know Maddox and Magnolia desperately need him back home so I’m thankful they’ll finally have half of us back there with them. Still, emotions are high as we prepare to walk through this next stretch with just Branson and me here.
Please continue to pray for Branson, for his healing, for this virus to be destroyed, and for our family as we walk through these long days. I tell Branson every single day that I wish I could be half as strong as he is. Every prayer matters, and we feel every single one of them. Thank you for loving us and holding us up through this nightmare. We love you all.
09.17.25 update
Yesterday Branson’s WBC was 8,000 and today it dropped down to 2,000 which is a sign that infection is present. He has developed sepsis but thankfully the doctors here are highly trained, were already on high alert for this possibility and started treatment right away.
Our poor boy is in so much pain right now. He just can’t seem to catch a break. Please keep lifting him up in prayer, that the treatment works quickly, the infection is cleared, and that he can get the relief his little body so desperately needs.
We are clinging to hope and faith, even in these hard moments. Thank you for covering Branson in love and prayer.
09.16.25 update
Today we have some more encouraging news to share! Branson’s white blood cell count has risen from 5,000 to 8,000 in just one day and the majority of those are neutrophils, the frontline soldiers that fight off infection. Even more amazing, his adenovirus levels have dropped from over 5 MILLION down to 800,000. That is a massive step in the right direction and we are thanking God for it.
He’s also receiving albumin infusions, which help pull excess fluid out of his tissues and support his body as it works so hard to heal. These are the little pieces of progress that keep us going.
But the truth is, despite the numbers looking better, Branson is still absolutely miserable. His body has been pushed to the very edge in order to save him and it’s gut wrenching to watch. He has lost his hair again and now his eyelashes and eyebrows are starting to fall out too. It’s hard beyond words to see him like this and I wouldn’t wish this road on anyone. I feel so helpless some days. I just want my boy to be happy and healthy again.
Donald leaves soon to return home and the thought of saying goodbye has us dreading the days ahead. We are not ready for him to go. 
Please, please continue to cover Branson and our family in your prayers, for the coming days, weeks, and months. We are clinging to faith that the comeback is near, even in the darkest stretch. Your love, support, and prayers are what carry us when we can’t carry ourselves. We love you all more than words can ever express.
09.15.25 update
THE BEST NEWS!!! Branson’s WBC has jumped from 2,000 to 5,000 and the majority of those cells are neutrophils! 
On top of that, his platelets are holding strong at 20,000. This is absolutely HUGE!!!!!
It almost feels unreal because his poor body is still in so much pain from the mucositis, fatigue, and just feeling overall miserable. Honestly, this is the hardest stretch he’s faced in this entire journey through hell. But even in the middle of the suffering, these numbers give us hope that his comeback is right around the corner.
Please keep the prayers coming. Every single one of them is carrying us through. We love you all so much!
09.14.25 update
WBC is up to 2,000!!! This is absolutely HUGE and such a big step forward! His immune system is finally waking up and strong enough that the doctors have stopped antibiotics, trusting his body to begin fighting on its own.
That said, Branson is still in a very hard place physically…the mucositis is brutal, his whole body aches with severe bone pain, and his malnutrition is a major concern right now. On top of that, his vision still hasn’t improved. He’s truly walking through the fire at the moment, and it’s heartbreaking to watch.
We’re praying that as his counts continue to climb, his body will heal and his vision will return quickly. Please keep lifting him up in prayer. We feel them carrying us through every single day. We love you all so much and are so grateful for the army behind us. 
Whew. I thought advocating for my child was hard back home, but doing it in another country where you don’t speak the language and the culture is so different takes things to another level. Back in the US, I never had a problem voicing my concerns (pretty sure every doctor Branson has ever had probably warns their coworkers “watch out for this mama, she’s CRAZY!!” 
)
I’ll claim that title proudly when it comes to my babies. 
But today brought some big news!
Branson’s WBC is at 1,200. YOU GUYS. We are officially in the thousands! 
Praise God, hallelujah! His brand new immune system is waking up and getting to work and the doctors are very pleased with where he is right now. They say he’s right on track and that’s exactly what we needed to hear.
The part that scared us at first was hearing that his adenovirus levels are now in the millions. Because things are explained a little differently here than what we’re used to at home, Donald and I panicked. The doctors do their rounds quickly and don’t always go into great detail, so this mama bear requested a sit down meeting with his oncologist. After just 10 minutes, everything made sense and our hearts are now much more at peace.
Here’s what we learned…they’re not concerned about the adenovirus right now because when my lymphocytes were tested, they showed a strong natural response against adenovirus. The team is confident that my mama cells are already gearing up to fight it and since engraftment is going so well, they don’t want to add unnecessary risk or interfere with his recovery by pulling more lymphocytes from me unless it’s truly needed. In other words, things are moving in the right direction.
Branson is still not feeling well. He is very weak, has an upset stomach, no appetite and still no vision but we finally have clarity and we know we’re climbing uphill now. We’re so thankful for these doctors and the progress he’s making. Please keep praying for our boy. We love you all!
09.10.25 update
Clinically, Branson is holding steady today. His white blood cell count is at 200, which means his body is still working hard behind the scenes to rebuild. He is still battling extreme fatigue, upset stomach and the painful effects of mucositis. These days have been so tough on him but we are clinging to the hope that his body is using this time to strengthen his immune system and begin fighting off this virus.
Please keep lifting Branson up in your prayers…for comfort, healing, and endurance. Every single prayer and word of encouragement means so much to us, and to him. We love you all and are so thankful to have you walking alongside us through this journey.
09.09.25 update
Yesterday Donald and I swapped shifts, so for the next couple of weeks Branson has his daddy by his side. Nothing makes him feel more at ease than having his people close and I know he is loving having Donald there.
We’ve got a little bit of good news and some not so good news to share today. The good news is that Branson’s WBC count is up to 230 and his neutrophils are at 90! That means his immune system is slowly but surely waking up and starting to do the work it was designed to do. This is exactly what we’ve been praying and waiting for!
The hard news is that Branson’s adenovirus levels jumped from 13,000 to 500,000. This is something we have to keep a very close eye on. The team will check his blood levels again in 2 days and if there’s no improvement by then, they will move forward with pulling more lymphocytes from me to help fight it.
Please, please keep praying that this virus clears up quickly and that Branson starts to feel some relief soon. These days are heavy, but we are clinging to every bit of hope and every prayer being lifted up for our boy.
We love you all and are so grateful for this army that continues to surround us.
This morning Branson’s oncology team came in with GREAT NEWS…his white blood cell count has climbed even higher to 200!!
This is such a huge step forward and a sign that his new immune system is beginning to wake up. The hope and prayer now is that his counts will continue to rise and as they do, his body will finally have the strength to fight off this virus and the painful mucositis that have kept him so miserable. If his immune system does not fight off the adenovirus on its own, they have began discussing taking more lymphocytes from me specifically targeted to fight this virus and infuse into his body once more.
Right now, he is still very uncomfortable and his vision has not returned yet. These days are heavy and exhausting, but we are holding tight to the hope that the uphill climb is just ahead.
Another hard thing for him right now is losing his hair, eyelashes and eyebrows all over again after they had been growing back so beautifully. It’s so defeating to see it falling out once more, but we keep reminding him that this time, when it grows back, it will be for good. When you run your hand across his head, it just comes away covered in hair…it’s heartbreaking, but part of this battle he’s so bravely fighting.
Please continue to lift Branson up in your prayers. We know better days are coming and your love and support mean more than words can ever say. We love you all!
Branson’s oncologist popped her head in earlier today with news that we have been so desperately waiting to hear!! His white blood cell count has climbed to 180! To most people that number might not sound like much, but in the world of bone marrow transplant, it’s HUGE!!! It’s the first real sign that those new stem cells (the “mama cells” I donated to him) are finally starting to take root and build a brand new immune system.
For weeks, his counts have been at zero, and every day we’ve just been holding on, waiting and praying for this exact moment. White cells are usually the very first to show up, so to see that number move tells us his new marrow is waking up and beginning to work. This is what doctors call engraftment, and it means his body is slowly but surely starting to rebuild from scratch.
The days ahead will still be fragile and full of ups and downs, but this is the sunrise we’ve been waiting to see. We’re praying hard that these mama cells keep multiplying, that tomorrow he’ll wake up feeling even a little better, and that each day from here we’ll see him climb higher and higher.
Please keep praying with us, that this engraftment continues strong, that infections stay far away, and that Branson’s body gets the relief it so desperately deserves. Your love and prayers carry us through every single moment.
The doctors just rounded and today is much the same as yesterday. No improvements yet. He is still very miserable. We are holding tightly to what the doctors have reminded us- this coming week should be the beginning of the uphill climb. We are clinging to that hope.
Please continue to pray with us. We love you all so much and are so grateful for every single prayer lifted for Branson and our family.
08.05.25 update
It’s been a few days since I’ve shared an update and truthfully, it takes every ounce of energy I have to sit down and write these. We’re pouring from bone dry cups right now.
Branson’s condition hasn’t changed much since the last update. He is completely exhausted, sleeping as much as he can during the day, with no appetite, constant pain, headaches, stomach issues and mucositis making it nearly impossible for him to eat or drink. Even water won’t stay down. He’s restless and uncomfortable no matter what we try.
We’re running on 2-3 hours of sleep at night, with little rest during the day because of the constant in and out of care. He’s receiving multiple blood and platelet transfusions each day to keep his counts stable.
The one bit of good news is that his adenovirus is holding steady and not worsening. His vision, however, still has not improved.
We are now on day 6 post-transplant. The doctors have told us that around day 10 which will be Tuesday, we should start to see the first signs of engraftment, when my cells begin to take hold and do the work they are meant to do. We are clinging to that hope with everything in us.
Until then, we’re just holding tight, praying for strength and longing for the day when Branson finally starts to feel relief. Please continue to cover him in your prayers and send your love. Every single one is felt deeply and it keeps us standing on the hardest days.
Another rough day but it is one more day behind us
Keep the prayers coming
Another rough day but one more day behind us 
The doctors said next week will be the worst of recovery so we could use all the prayers to power through the next 2 weeks! I just want my baby to feel like himself and be able to be a normal kid 
09.01.25 update
Another rough day for my sweet boy. Branson is still battling the virus, along with high blood pressure, painful headaches, bone and joint pain, constant fatigue, an upset stomach, and so much restlessness. He is absolutely miserable right now but as always, he keeps powering through in true Branson fashion, with more strength than I can even put into words.
It’s one more day behind us.
Supposedly the first 2-3 weeks post transplant are the hardest part of recovery, so we are clinging tight to that hope and counting down the days. His eyesight still hasn’t changed so we continue to pray for improvement there too.
Please continue to lift him up in your prayers. We feel them and we need them. 
I can’t lie. I try really hard to only highlight the good days… because if I’m being brutally honest, the bad days are horrendous but these last two days have been so hard. Branson has been experiencing terrible migraines brought on by hypertension, and while the team here is treating his symptoms as they come, he is purely miserable. He can’t eat, can’t sleep, can’t stop throwing up from the mucositis. He is so pitiful right now and as a mom it’s gut wrenching to watch him suffer on top of everything else he has already endured.
We know this stretch of treatment is meant to be the hardest, but selfishly I just want the next two weeks to fly by so my baby doesn’t have to endure one more ounce of unnecessary pain. Please pray for comfort, that the headaches ease, and that these brutal days pass quickly.
We are holding tight to the dream of getting home so Branson can finally just be a kid again and make up for all of the time that cancer has stolen. Until then, we are leaning on your prayers to carry us through.
08.31.25 update
Friday, Branson came down with adenovirus, which is unfortunately very common in children with severely compromised immune systems like his. For anyone unfamiliar, adenovirus is a group of viruses that usually cause mild illnesses such as colds, pink eye, or stomach bugs in healthy children. But in kids like Branson, whose immune systems are wiped out from chemo, radiation, and transplant, it can be very dangerous and difficult for the body to fight off.
On top of this virus, the effects of last week’s chemotherapy and radiation are fully setting in while his body is simultaneously trying to recover and accept the new stem cells. Right now, he is absolutely miserable. We got maybe two hours of sleep last night, as he has been tossing and turning in pain. He’s battling horrible stomachaches, migraines, body aches…you name it.
He is also beginning to develop mucositis again (a painful inflammation and ulceration of the digestive tract caused by chemo and radiation). This is extremely uncomfortable and makes eating nearly impossible, which is why he is now on a super strict diet and is only allowed water for the next couple of weeks. His vision still has not returned, which remains another heavy weight on his little body.
The doctors have been very honest with us, the next 14 days will likely be brutally awful and hopefully the very worst part of this bone marrow transplant process. We are in the thick of the storm. The good news is that when they tested my stem cells, they showed recognition and a fighting response against adenovirus. So, once those cells engraft and kick in, they should be able to help fight this virus off.
Right now, Branson needs every ounce of prayer and covering that he can get. Please, please lift him up specifically for relief from the pain, protection from further complications, healing of his vision, and for these new stem cells to do their job swiftly and effectively. Pray for Donald and me as well as we walk through these sleepless, heavy days at his bedside.
We are clinging to hope and faith, but we need the strength of this prayer army more than ever.
Over the last year, our family has been carried in ways we never could have imagined. The amount of generosity, support, prayers, and love poured over us has been nothing short of an absolute miracle. Every single day, Donald and I sit in complete shock and speechlessness trying to wrap our minds around it all. There are simply no words big enough to ever truly express the depth of our gratitude.
The truth is, without you, we would not be standing where we are today. When doctors told us not once, but twice that there was nothing left to do… that we should take Branson home to live out his final days… we refused to accept that. We fought relentlessly, from the pits of hell itself, for his life. And when insurance refused to cover treatment abroad, it didn’t stop us. When we landed in Rome and were met with the brutal reality that Branson’s only chance at survival would cost over $600,000, it didn’t stop us either. Because losing our baby was simply not an option.
And the only reason it was even possible… is all of you. Since August 2024, fundraiser after fundraiser has been organized, each one reminding us we aren’t alone in this fight. Truthfully, without those fundraisers, without this village surrounding us, we would not be here today.
I had to abruptly walk away from my career. Donald, who has always stood so firmly as our provider, has been out of work since May and if you know my husband, you know his work is more than a paycheck, it’s a part of his identity. That in itself has been a hard sacrifice. But the reason we’ve been able to stay afloat in the middle of this storm is because of you.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. Thank you for showing up, for giving, for praying, for believing when everything seemed impossible. Branson’s fight is far from over, but because of the love of this community, he’s still here. And so are we.
We will never stop being grateful. We will never stop remembering what you’ve done for our family. You’ve given us more than support…you’ve given us hope, and you’ve given Branson the chance at life he deserves. And I promise not an ounce of it has gone unnoticed.
It’s happening. Right now, at this very moment, Branson’s bone marrow transplant infusion has officially started. The cells that were taken from my body just yesterday are now flowing into his. Cells that we are praying will take root, grow strong, and give him the brand new, cancer free life he deserves.
This is the moment we’ve been fighting toward, the one we’ve been holding our breath for. It feels surreal and heavy all at the same time. My baby is hooked up to life itself and all we can do is pray over every single drop making its way into his veins.
Please join us in covering this infusion in prayer, that these cells will be protected, that they will do exactly what they are supposed to do, that Branson’s body will accept them without complication, and that this will be the turning point we’ve been pleading with God for every day for the last year.
As his parents, there are no words to explain the mix of fear, hope, and faith running through us right now. But I know one things for sure- our God is bigger than leukemia. And today, as those cells drip into my sweet boy, we are claiming healing, strength, and a brand new beginning.
Please, please keep praying over Branson, over these cells, and over the miracle that is unfolding right now.
08/28/25 update
This morning the doctors came in with the news we’ve been praying for. Branson is doing absolutely perfect clinically and he is officially READY for transplant on Saturday!
I had to receive double the amount of shots today because my blood counts weren’t quite where they needed to be, but thankfully we’re getting there. Tomorrow morning at 8AM they’ll begin stem cell collection (8 hours of blood collection 
) and then Saturday will be Branson’s big day his “new birthday” as he calls it! 
He is so excited and our hearts are so hopeful. Please continue to lift him up in prayer that every single step goes as smoothly and perfectly as possible, all the way until he’s discharged.
Credit: Branson’s Brave Battle / Nichole Blevins