We’re so excited to share another great update on our brave girl!

Last week, she had several follow-up appointments — with her neurosurgery team at Lurie, her pediatrician, and her outpatient physical therapist — and the news was all positive. Everyone was amazed at how well she’s doing, and she was officially cleared to return to all normal activities!

Her physical therapist was especially impressed by Avery’s strength and balance and said no further therapy is needed at this time.

The next major medical step will be a follow-up MRI in mid-July. We’re hopeful it will confirm that no tumor cells remain. We’ll also be meeting with Neuro-oncology (which is standard) to review the results of the DNA testing being done on the tumor tissue. Toxicology confirmed it was a benign JPA but this will give us a more in depth picture. Moving forward, MRIs will continue every 3–6 months for a while, eventually shifting to an annual schedule for 10 years.

With renewed confidence after her checkups, we brought Avery to the park for the first time since before her surgery — and we spent much of Mother’s Day weekend enjoying the outdoors together.

Today was Avery’s first day back at school. There were a few tears, but overall, she did fantastic. We are incredibly proud of our strong, resilient girl.

As for us — mom and dad are slowly easing back into the swing of things. We’re both working with therapists to help process the trauma of our three-year-old undergoing brain surgery, and we're allowing ourselves time to heal.

We feel profoundly grateful to be here, sharing this good news — knowing we’ve come through something so frightening with the best possible outcome.

Avery was discharged from the inpatient Shirley Ryan AbilityLab today and we are finally home! We were warmly greeted by a welcome home sign made my friends and neighbors on our fence and got a meal from a neighbor for dinner :)

Avery completed her PT and OT sessions with flying colors. She absolutely blew them away with her determination, hard work, and progress. She will have a follow up visit with her neurosurgeon on May 8th and follow up physical therapy on the 9th. It’s so hard to believe that she had a tumor removed from her brain only 13 days ago. She’s also seeing a neuro ophthalmologist about her turning eye this Thursday since it started happening again. Vision therapy will likely be in her future.

Thank you all for your prayers and support. She is in God’s hands, and we truly believe this was a miracle. 

May God bless you!

Attached is a pic of her having fun with Grandma on her 71st birthday, even in the hospital!

Praise the Lord! On Easter morning, we received the incredible news that Avery’s tumor was confirmed by pathology to be a benign JPA (Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma). On this day of hope and renewal, we couldn’t have asked for a more meaningful gift.

Avery also took a huge step—For the first time since surgery, she was able to walk with just a handhold instead of needing full support. We’re in awe of her determination and strength.

We’re currently awaiting a bed to open up at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, where Avery will begin an intensive inpatient rehabilitation program before we’re able to return home.

This Easter was filled with unexpected joy thanks to Lurie Children’s Hospital, who went above and beyond to create a beautiful Easter celebration for kids spending the holiday in the hospital. Avery woke up to a delivered Easter basket, enjoyed arts and crafts, and got to meet the Easter Bunny himself. She managed to collect not one but five mini bunny stuffies from the party—and by evening had gathered them all into “circle time” to teach them their ABCs.

Chris also helped bring some Easter magic by hiding 3 dozen toy-filled eggs for an egg hunt across our hospital floor. It was such a fun moment for the kids and meant so much to feel the joy and community on such a special day.

Chris’s parents just returned to New York, and Lizzie’s parents came to be with us for Easter—one will be staying this week to offer extra support.

While Avery continues to feel the exhaustion and frustration of holding back from all she wants to do, her spark is shining through. In another surprising and encouraging development, her eye has not turned/crossed even once since the surgery—a little medical mystery we’re so thankful for.

Mom and Dad are hanging in there. Chris stays overnight at the hospital with Avery, while Lizzie rests nearby at a hotel to manage her migraines.

We continue to be deeply grateful for your love, prayers, and support during this journey.