How Cancer Changed Everything Again: One Family’s Story

Hello Friends,

Most of you know me for the recipes I share, but today I’m writing from the heart. Many of you have followed our family through hard times — my husband’s fight with cancer and his passing, and our son Miles’ early months on dialysis while he waited for a liver and kidney transplant. That season changed us, and now we’re in another difficult chapter.

Recently my son, who is now 10, was diagnosed with cancer. He survived dialysis and a transplant as a baby, and this new diagnosis of Burkitt lymphoma — PTLD (post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder) — has been devastating for our family. It’s rare and it’s frightening, but he is already receiving care from oncology specialists.

For a few days doctors thought he had a ruptured spleen, and then a few days later we learned the truth — it was cancer. The diagnosis came out of the blue. Only a week before we were in San Diego, playing at the beach, hiking along the cliffs, and enjoying simple family moments. The suddenness of this news has been so hard to process.

One particularly dark night we spent pacing the hospital with Miles because he was in intense pain. At one point we were told his transplanted kidney — which had been doing so well — was failing due to tumor lysis syndrome, a complication related to his cancer. He needed dialysis again. That announcement brought back a flood of memories from the years he spent on dialysis as a baby, and it felt like reliving trauma none of us should have to revisit.

Miles spent two weeks in the hospital between the PICU and the oncology floor. He had round-the-clock dialysis for several days while the team managed his electrolyte and kidney issues, then doctors began chemotherapy. The medical team has been incredible; their expertise and compassion have helped us through some terrifying moments.

We are now home and so thankful to be here. His transplanted kidney is stable again and he no longer needs dialysis, which is a huge relief. Right now his treatment continues on an outpatient basis with weekly visits for chemotherapy. We’ll have a PET scan in a few weeks to measure how the cancer is responding, and the care team will adjust his treatment plan based on those results.

What comes next…

In the coming weeks we’ll keep a close schedule of outpatient chemo sessions, scans, and follow-up appointments. The oncology team has outlined the immediate plan, but exact treatment timing and duration will depend on the PET scan results and how Miles tolerates therapy. We are preparing for ups and downs, and we know there will be hard days ahead.

On the brighter side, Miles has been handling treatment with toughness and more smiles than I expected. He was relieved to have the dialysis catheter removed from his neck, and being home has boosted his spirits. He’s coping with typical chemo side effects but remains in generally good spirits considering everything he’s facing. His arms have many bruises from IVs, and every day we remind him how brave he is.

For me, this diagnosis is painful in a way that’s hard to fully describe. Watching my son worry that he might lose his life to cancer echoes the loss of his father, and it has stirred up trauma I thought we had begun to heal from. I find myself balancing the need to be strong and practical with the very human grief and fear that come up in the quiet moments. It’s a lot to carry, but we are not alone — we have an incredible medical team and a community of friends and readers who mean so much to us.

Thank you for your love and support!

I’m sharing this update because so many of you have followed our story and because your support truly matters. If you’d like to help in a small, practical way, one meaningful gesture is visiting and sharing recipes on my site. Every page view, every shared recipe, and every meal cooked from the blog helps sustain this space and supports our family during this time.

Your kind messages, prayers, and quiet encouragement have been a source of strength. We are deeply grateful for every comment, every message, and every thought sent our way. Knowing a community cares about Miles and our family eases this burden more than I can say.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for caring. Thank you for lifting us up in any way you can. Your compassion and support are invaluable as we navigate this next chapter.

With gratitude,
Ashley

Try my favorite recipes…

If you’d like to support us by enjoying recipes, here are some favorites that are easy to make, crowd-pleasers, and comforting for busy days during treatment. Cooking and sharing meals have always been a way our family finds comfort and connection.

1. Corned Beef and Cabbage

2. Chocolate Chocolate Chip Nothing Bundt Cake Copycat

3. The Best Homemade Ranch Dip

4. BLT Flatbreads with Avocado Spread

5. Air Fryer Chicken Bites Without Breading

Thank you again for your kindness, prayers, and practical support. We will share updates as we can, and we appreciate you holding Miles in your thoughts and hearts.