May 4th

This update feels a little different than the last one. The last time we wrote, we were in the middle of one of the scariest moments of our lives with Declan’s surgery. Since then, the weekend has given us something we’ve been desperate for….time. Time to breathe, time to sit beside our boys, and time for their little bodies to rest and start healing.

Over the weekend, both boys mostly rested. Mom and dad stayed right at their bedsides, helping in any way we could, soaking in every moment, and just being present with them.

We’ll start with Colton.

Colton has been our steady guy. The last few days, he’s been a bit fussy as he works through learning how to grow. His little belly has been giving him some trouble, but we are finally starting to see things head in the right direction. It’s a process, and he’s figuring it out in his own time.

One of the biggest changes for Colton has been switching his ventilator settings… we made the change to volume mode instead of pressure. The difference has honestly been incredible. He seems so much more comfortable, more relaxed, and just… at peace. It’s been such a relief to see him settle like that. We’re hopeful that this will continue to help him grow stronger each day.

And speaking of growing….Colton officially joined the 5-pound club. A huge milestone for our little guy, and one we are so proud of.

Now, Mr. Declan.

There truly aren’t enough words to describe how amazing this little boy is. He continues to blow us away and surprise everyone around him.

Declan has spent most of the weekend resting under sedation, giving his body the chance to recover from everything it has been through. And even while resting, he has been making incredible progress. His blood pressure has stabilized, his Vitamin K levels have improved, and the swelling that once took over his body is finally starting to come down.

We are still running dialysis for now to help remove the extra fluid, but it is working. He is officially down 1.5 pounds, which feels nothing short of amazing. Day by day, he is starting to look more like himself again, less like our little “marshmallow man” and more like the sweet boy we know.

His belly is looking really good. There is still some bruising and swelling, which is expected, but overall it’s healing well. One of the biggest answers to prayer, the bleeding in his stomach has stopped. That alone feels like a miracle.

We want to be honest though, we are not out of the woods yet. Declan still has a long road ahead. He needs continued rest, continued stability, and we are hoping in the coming days that he can come off dialysis and maintain all of this progress on his own.

But overall, we are in a much better place than we were just days ago. And for right now, we are holding onto that.

Today gave us something we will never forget. Declan was awake for a bit…wide eyes, making eye contact, and squeezing mom’s hand. It was, without a doubt, the best birthday gift she could have ever received.

Both boys gave mom the sweetest moments today in their own ways. Colton with snuggles, and Declan with those strong little hand squeezes that reminded us he’s still right here, still fighting.

We are so grateful for where things stand today. Still cautious. Still taking it hour by hour. But grateful.

Thank you to everyone who continues to pray, reach out, and support our family. We feel it more than we can ever put into words.

We’ll continue to update as we can. For now, we’re holding onto these small victories and letting our boys keep doing what they do best….fight & grow

Declan Jet

Colton Ryan