Reefs “Rhoad” to recovery

09/07/2025

✨ One Year in Remission ✨

It’s been a while since I’ve posted an update, but I wanted to share something that I hope brings a little light to anyone walking through a similar journey.

Reef has officially been in remission for one year. 💛 The year has flown by, but at the same time, it feels like it’s been so very slow. We’ve spent this time trying to heal both mentally and physically, and most importantly, learning how to be present in every single moment.

He still goes in very frequently for bloodwork, just to make sure everything continues to look good—and thankfully, it has. 🙏

When we were in the middle of “the storm”, I remember searching endlessly for “pediatric AML remission stories,” just desperately trying to find hope. It was so hard to find stories of kids who not only went into remission but stayed there. And that was terrifying.

So if you’ve stumbled across this page looking for what I was once looking for please let Reef’s story be that glimmer of hope. 🌟 A year out, he is here, he is thriving, and he is still in remission.

We don’t take a single day for granted. Thank you for continuing to keep Reef in your thoughts and prayers, and for following along on this journey with us. 💛

06/07/2025

It’s Plastics Family Americas Fun Run Day, and I’m proud to participate in support of Make-A-Wish America.

This one’s for the strongest little guy I know —Reef Imes.

05/17/2025

We are so proud to share that Reef is serving as a model in this year’s Runway to Hope Spring Soirée—an inspiring event that shines a spotlight on the bravery and beauty of children battling pediatric cancer.

Runway to Hope is a Central Florida-based nonprofit with a powerful mission: to support children and families facing pediatric cancer while working toward a cure. Tonight’s event celebrates these young warriors and raises critical funds to continue that mission.

✨ Watch the magic unfold and cheer on Reef by tuning into the live stream here: https://runwaytohope.org/2025livestream

03/29/2025

Last week, we had the incredible opportunity to take Reef on his Make-A-Wish trip. His wish was to visit the snow, and we traveled to Keystone, Colorado, for a truly magical experience.

From snow tubing and dog sledding to snowboarding and sledding down hills on toboggans we picked up at a local grocery store, the kids had an absolute blast. They could’ve played in the snow for hours! We enjoyed amazing food and, most importantly, spent quality time together as a family.

This trip gave us memories we will cherish forever. A huge thank you to Make-A-Wish for making it all possible!

03/25/2025

12/26/2024

This Christmas feels especially meaningful after such a challenging year. Though it hasn’t been easy, we are so grateful for where we are now and for the love and support that has carried us through. Today, we’re choosing to focus on the blessings, both big and small, and the hope that comes with this season. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas filled with love, peace, and gratitude.

11/26/2024

The surgery was a success! He was so brave, going in with full confidence. Waking up from anesthesia was a bit rough, with a little pain, but we’re officially on our way home now. He’s snoring peacefully in the backseat. They even let us take the port home as a keepsake! We’ll be taking it easy for the next few days! ❤️

11/25/2024

Today, Reef had one of his checkups, and we’re thrilled to share that everything is looking just as it should be. He continues to amaze us with his strength and bravery. Tomorrow, we’re heading back to the hospital to have his port PORT REMOVAL SURGERY!! 🫣🎉. As always, this brings a mix of emotions, but we’re hopeful that this marks the end of a very scary chapter in our lives.

While we’ll still need to return regularly for monitoring throughout his life—since the chemo he received can have long-term side effects—we’re incredibly grateful to have reached this milestone. Earlier this year, we weren’t sure we’d get to this point, and now, looking back, it’s humbling to see how far we’ve come. This journey has given us a whole new perspective on life.

Thank you to everyone who has been following Reef’s journey. Your love and support have truly made all the difference. Please send us all the positive energy for tomorrow’s procedure—we’re ready to take this next step forward.

10/20/2024

Today, we had a fun family outing to Boo at the Zoo. It was packed, but despite the crowds, the kids had an absolute blast. The energy was contagious, and it felt so good to see them enjoying themselves. Reef is doing really well, which has been such a huge relief for all of us. We’re slowly trying to get back to living our lives without letting the fear hold us back. It’s definitely been a journey, but as a family, we’re committed to moving forward, embracing these little moments, and making the most of each day.

Tomorrow, we have an appointment with our favorite doctor at Advent, and there’s hope that we might talk about the possibility of getting Reef’s port removed. It feels like a huge step forward, but at the same time, it’s nerve-wracking to even think about it. We’re trying to stay optimistic, and we’re ready for whatever comes next. 🫣❤️💪🏼🤞🏼

09/30/2024

Today is the last day of September, which marks the end of National Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month. I’ve been meaning to post about this earlier, but as life tends to do, the days have flown by so quickly. However, I cannot let this month end without acknowledging some of the truly incredible people who have made an enormous difference in our lives during this journey.

One of my best friends in the entire world just so happens to be a pediatric oncology nurse. The night I went to the hospital with Reef, she didn’t hesitate for a second. She dropped everything—rescheduled her work, flew in friends to take care of her kids, and made the five-hour trip to and from Miami multiple times to be by my side. Her support made all the difference. When I was in shock, barely able to think straight, she advocated for us, pushing for Reef’s transfer to Advent. She went so far as to reach out to doctors she knew there, and they began following Reef’s journey even while we were still in Miami.

When we finally arrived at Advent, we were welcomed with open arms. Over the past eight months, the Advent staff has become like family to us. We’ve celebrated holidays and birthdays together, sharing moments that have been both beautiful and bittersweet. Lacey, one of Reef’s doctors who is now a personal friend, has been a constant source of comfort. She’s patiently answered my millions of questions—day and night—always calming my fears and helping us navigate this path.

To these extraordinary people, I am forever grateful. I feel blessed beyond words to have them on our team—Team Reef.

09/20/2024

One of Reef’s birthday wishes was to go out on a boat, and thanks to our amazing friends and our incredibly helpful neighbor, that wish came true. You can tell by all the smiles that he had a *really* terrible time—lol! Thank you so much, Julie! We love and appreciate you!

This Monday, we’ll be heading to the hospital to check on Reef’s healing progress. He’s been dealing with some allergies, so we’ve got him on a gluten and dairy-free diet, which hasn’t exactly been the most fun. But we’re hopeful it’ll help.

As parents, navigating through this trauma has been more challenging than we ever expected. But with every positive appointment Reef has, we’re hopeful it’ll help us let our guard down little by little.

09/16/2024

Our favorite little boy recently celebrated his 3-Rex birthday, and we were so excited to share the day with friends and family. Unfortunately, just two hours into the party, Reef started feeling unwell and spiked a fever, which led to an unexpected trip to the ER for emergency meds. As always, he was a trooper, and by the next morning, he was feeling much better. We ended up resuming the celebration at home, just the four of us.

As parents, with everything he has gone threw, all we wanted was for him to have the best birthday possible, so seeing him sick was heartbreaking. But when we saw how happy he was the next morning, ready to play with Mom, Dad, and his Sis, it reminded us what truly matters. His resilience and joy put everything into perspective for us.