You could see the discomfort on his little Owen’s face having to take some nasty steroid medication. But shortly after, a magical moment happened - a video from Grandpa brought a smile to his face. Grandpa pretended to make breakfast and waffles with food toys, and just like that, Owen's spirits were lifted. It was a reminder of how simple joys can make a huge difference.

We had some surprise visitors today, although Owen was asleep when they arrived. Dad’s cousins, Nick and Brittany, along with Melissa’s brother's girlfriend, Camille, dropped by. They didn’t get to see Owen awake, but their gifts and the love they brought with them were felt deeply. And then, the outpouring of support continued with gift baskets and care packages from Dad’s former colleagues - Casey, Dan, and Sam - and a special care package from Dad's client and close friend, Michael Sherman, and his wife, Alex. It's humbling to see the amount of love and support coming our way, not just in gifts, but in the countless texts and calls checking in on Owen’s progress.

The highlight of the day was definitely when Owen got some Oxycodone, or as we've affectionately started calling it, "happy juice." It was relieving to see Owen's personality shine through the pain and discomfort. He was genuinely happy, not in an over-the-top way, but in a manner that felt like we were seeing the real Owen again, even if just for a little while.

Dad took over the night shift, and it was heart-melting. Owen kept saying, "I love you, daddy," until he fell asleep. It’s moments like these that we’ll hold onto forever.

In other good news, Owen started to eat a little last night. Just some sliced turkey and the marshmallows from his Lucky Charms - but it’s progress, and we’ll take it. We even managed a video call with Grandma and Grandpa Watson, which was a lovely end to the evening before Owen drifted off to a peaceful sleep around 10:30pm.

Looking ahead, Owen is scheduled to receive a major chemo drug in the AM. We don’t recall the name, given the whirlwind of information we're trying to process, but we understand there’s a risk of an allergic reaction. We’re even more anxious about the second dose a month from now, as the risk increases significantly. But we're prepared, with an EpiPen at the ready, just in case.

Through all of this, we’re learning to navigate our new reality, holding onto hope, and cherishing the moments of joy and love we can find amidst the challenges. Your support means the world to us, and we can’t thank you enough for being our strength during this time.

With all our love and gratitude,

— Owen’s Parents