Unless you’ve walked this road yourself, it’s almost impossible to understand what it means to be a medical parent. From the outside, you might see a smiling family photo, a child laughing on the playground, or a post celebrating another birthday. It can be easy to assume that life has returned to normal. But behind…
If you’ve followed Avalynn’s Hope for any length of time, you know that our heart is to walk alongside families facing childhood illness. Every grant we give, every event we host, every family we meet, and every conversation we have is rooted in one little girl who forever changed our lives. This summer has looked…
Sometimes life brings moments that reshape how we understand our own family story. Recently, our family experienced one of those moments when we discovered and met someone we had never known before—an older brother. Learning about this connection came as a surprise. Meeting him opened the door to new conversations and a relationship we never…
Life keeps unfolding, even after profound loss. Children mature, families change, and new chapters begin. For our family, these developments bring happiness while also reminding us that someone important is missing. Avalynn passed away in October 2019 after her three-year journey with AML leukemia. Since then, the years have continued to pass, bringing experiences that…
When a child is diagnosed with cancer or another serious medical condition, the experience can feel overwhelming for an entire family. Life quickly shifts toward medical appointments, treatments, and difficult decisions. Parents often find themselves trying to manage a complex healthcare system while also caring for their child and supporting the rest of their family….
We remember the first time we whispered those same words. It was quiet, the kind of quiet that only hospital hallways can hold. Machines hummed softly in the background, nurses moved quickly from room to room, and somewhere down the hall, a baby cried. In that moment, alone in the bathroom, we looked at our…
We remember what it felt like—the exhaustion, the fear, and the endless scrolling through medical websites at 2 a.m., desperate to find anything that might help our daughter. When your child is medically fragile or disabled, it’s not just the hospital stays or the appointments that overwhelm you. It’s the constant worry: What resources are…
We are honored to share Isla Rose’s story, as told by her mom, Tristen. Isla is four years old. She is a daughter and a sister to Claire (3), Connor (14), and Raelynn (10), and deeply loved by her parents, Tristen and Sebastian. She is a light in her family’s life, and a child whose…
With Christmas just days away, many of us are choosing gifts that feel meaningful. For our family, this season is also a time when Avalynn’s legacy feels especially close and continues to guide our work through Avalynn’s Hope Foundation. This Christmas, we want to share something deeply personal. The Courageous Chronicles of Avie Bravelee: The…
The holidays carry many layers of emotion. For families like ours, who have experienced deep loss, this season arrives with both warmth and heaviness. While others may focus solely on celebration, we are learning how to hold space for both joy and sorrow—allowing them to exist side by side. At Avalynn’s Hope Foundation, we understand…
