07/15/2025
(The date is nonspecific due to confidentiality.) Yesterday marked one of the most important days of our lives—Kaia’s “Cell Day.” This is the day her donor stem cells arrived and were infused into her body—a second birthday of sorts. A day of hope, science, and love all converging for one little girl who has fought with incredible courage.
Getting to this day has taken everything from her—and from all of us.
Kaia has now been in the hospital for over two weeks, bravely enduring the rigors of conditioning chemotherapy. This process—designed to eliminate her malfunctioning marrow and make space for new cells—included intense medications that wiped out her immune system, suppressed her bone marrow, and caused side effects no child should have to go through. But she did it. Every single day, she showed up with strength. With a smile. With her trademark sparkle.
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The journey her donor cells took is just as amazing:
The donor—a stranger, a hero—was found through the bone marrow registry. They stepped forward, rolled up their sleeve, and gave Kaia the gift of life.
The cells were collected, carefully packed in temperature-controlled containers, and transported across the country. They were hand-delivered by medical courier directly to our hospital 8PM last night.
Once here, the cells were specially processed just for Kaia. Her transplant was tailored: the cells were filtered, tested, and gently thawed to preserve viability. Then, quietly but profoundly, they were infused into her bloodstream through her central line.
Just like that—her journey toward a new bone marrow began. Just a bag of cells and a whole lot of hope.
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Kaia has fought hard to get to this moment. She’s will continue to fight through fatigue, nausea, tears, and hair loss. Nonetheless lyre spirit stays strong and positive. She makes the nurses laugh everyday. She finds ways to play. She keeps dreaming up new slime creations. She reminds us—every day—that joy is still possible.
We are profoundly, endlessly grateful to our community. Every message, every prayer, every package, every share of her story—you have lifted us in the hardest moments. We could not have reached this milestone without you. Truly.
As we wait for engraftment in the coming weeks, we ask you to keep sending that same love and light our way. The hardest part may still be ahead—but we walk into it with more strength because we know Kaia’s army is walking beside us.
Here’s to new beginnings. To second chances.
To Kaia’s new cells.
And to the magic of science, community, and one very determined little girl.
