10/08/2026
Our nonprofit has been moving a little slower than I had hoped, but I’m learning that grief doesn’t follow a schedule. Some days I feel motivated and ready to accomplish everything, and other days, simply getting through the day is enough. Things change daily, and I’m learning to give myself grace through all of it. ❤️
But even on the hard days, we are still moving forward.
And today is a pretty special milestone for A Sibling’s Love because we are officially ready to send out our very first parent care packages to newly diagnosed families at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. ❤️
As soon as we get our flyers printed, these packages will be ready to go.
I’ve thought about this moment a lot because I remember what those first days looked like for our family.
On September 16, 2020, our lives changed forever when we found out Gavin had stage 4 high-risk neuroblastoma. He was only 4 years old. In an instant, we went from worrying about a little boy who had been having some pain and fevers to hearing words no parent ever wants to hear: your child has cancer.
There was so much fear. So many questions. So much information being thrown at us when we could barely process what was happening. We suddenly needed things we never imagined we would need, while trying to figure out how to care for Gavin, our other children, and ourselves.
And somewhere in the middle of all of that, people showed up for us.
People brought meals. People prayed. People donated. People checked in. People helped with our other kids. People did little things that they probably thought weren’t a big deal, but meant so much to us during a time when everything felt impossible.
Now, after losing Gavin, I want to be that person for another family.
I know we can’t take away their fear. We can’t change their child’s diagnosis. We can’t make the long hospital stays or difficult days disappear.
But maybe we can make one thing a little easier.
Maybe a parent will be able to grab a clean towel without having to think about it. Maybe they’ll have a snack when they realize they haven’t eaten all day. Maybe they’ll be able to order dinner with the DoorDash gift card. Maybe they’ll watch a movie for a little while and get a much-needed break from the hospital room.
And hopefully, when they open that package, they’ll feel something even more important:
Someone sees us. Someone cares about us. We are not alone. ❤️
Each parent care package will include:
🧺 A pop-up laundry hamper
💧 Two Owala water bottles
🛁 Two large, quality bath towels
🧴 Travel-size toiletries
🧻 Kleenex
💊 Tylenol and ibuprofen
📺 An Amazon Fire TV Stick
🔌 A universal phone charger
🍪 A snack bag with a $50 DoorDash gift card
🎨 An activity bag to help pass the time
These packages are just one small piece of what we hope to build through A Sibling’s Love. We want to support the entire family—the child fighting cancer, their parents, and the siblings who are often quietly carrying so much of their own.
Gavin spent 5½ years fighting. He endured more than any child ever should have had to endure. We lost him on February 4, 2026, and there isn't a day that goes by that I wouldn't give anything to have him back.
But I also know that his story doesn't have to end there.
If we can take some of the love, kindness, and support that was given to our family and pass it on to another family who desperately needs it, then Gavin is still making a difference.
That is why we do this.
That is why A Sibling’s Love exists.
And that is how we will keep Gavin’s love going. ❤️
Thank you to everyone who has believed in this, donated, sponsored, shared our posts, supported our fundraisers, or simply encouraged me along the way.
We are just getting started. ❤️
For Gavin. For the families. For the siblings. For the love that carries us through.
