Bowen’s Battle — Finding Hope in the Gray Areas.2376

💛 Bowen’s Battle — Finding Hope in the Gray Areas 💛

When you’re walking through a journey like this, you learn quickly that medicine isn’t always black and white — sometimes it’s made up of impossible choices, unanswered questions, and prayers whispered between each heartbeat.

For Bowen’s family, this week was one of those moments.


💬 The Meeting That Changed Everything

They went into Monday’s meeting with Dr. Klimo, Bowen’s neurosurgeon, expecting to discuss a

VP shunt surgery — a device that helps drain excess fluid from the brain. It was something they’d been prepared for. The MRI images showed enlarged ventricles, and the team at St. Jude had said the procedure was likely unavoidable.

But after a careful exam and long discussion, Dr. Klimo said something no one expected to hear:

“I think Bowen might not need the shunt after all.”

It was a shock. For weeks, they’d braced themselves for another surgery — another scar, another recovery, another setback in the long list of battles their little boy has already faced.


🧠 A Rare Case — and a Complicated One

Bowen’s hydrocephalus — a buildup of fluid in the brain — isn’t typical. Most cases are fast-moving or caused by trauma. But Bowen’s is

slow, stable, and strangely unique.

When surgeons removed his large brain tumor months ago, it left behind trauma and stretched ventricles that now have to reorganize themselves. His brain, in its own remarkable way, is trying to find balance again.

According to Dr. Klimo, the “filters” inside Bowen’s ventricles — tiny channels that regulate brain fluid — might be clogged from a mix of chemotherapy, blood transfusions, and the body’s own proteins. That buildup can cause

temporary, stable hydrocephalus that ebbs and flows instead of progressing dangerously.

In other words, Bowen’s brain is doing something rare: it’s managing to hold steady.


🩺 Why Surgery Isn’t Always the Answer

It’s hard to believe when you see the scans — fluid where it shouldn’t be, a visible swelling where part of his skull was removed during his last operation.

But that missing skull flap, strangely enough, has become a blessing in disguise. It allows doctors to

see what’s happening beneath the surface. When chemo weeks hit, the swelling increases slightly. Then, between treatments, his brain returns to baseline — more sunken than bulging, but stable.

Dr. Klimo reassured them that Bowen isn’t at risk of brain tissue strangulation because the opening from the bone flap is wide enough to prevent that kind of pressure. If it ever reached a dangerous point, they’d have time to act.

That reassurance — after months of fear — felt like air after drowning.

Still, Bowen’s brain is exposed, and that remains a constant worry. Even without the shunt, he’s vulnerable to injury. Every bump, every tumble, feels like a moment to hold their breath.

But installing a shunt comes with its own dangers: infections, delayed chemo, complications. There’s no easy choice — only the “least risky” one.


⚖️ Choosing the Gray

Bowen’s parents left the meeting with mixed emotions —

relief that another surgery was off the table for now, and anxiety that everything still feels uncertain.

“We’re choosing the devil we know,” his mom said quietly. “Because nothing is guaranteed.”

In less experienced hands, the decision might have gone differently. Many doctors would have operated right away based on the MRI alone. But Dr. Klimo’s experience and deep understanding of Bowen’s condition gave them something precious —

time.

He explained that if Bowen can make it through his remaining rounds of chemotherapy, his next surgery — the bone flap replacement — may help correct the problem naturally. But right now, Bowen’s body simply isn’t strong enough for another major brain operation.

So, for now, they watch, they wait, and they pray.


💛 Finding Peace in the Uncertainty

There’s no perfect choice here — only faith and trust.

“We’re in uncharted waters again,” his mom shared, “but I’m choosing to feel grateful that Bowen doesn’t have to go through another surgery right now.”

They’ll monitor him closely — every lab, every change in behavior, every little sign that his brain might need more help. But for now, the focus is on what matters most: keeping Bowen safe, comfortable, and happy.

And somehow, through all the medical jargon and impossible decisions, Bowen keeps reminding everyone what resilience really looks like.


🚲 A Boy Still Being a Boy

While doctors analyze scans and parents battle anxiety, Bowen — the heart of it all — just keeps living his best little-boy life.

He zips down hospital hallways on his scooter.
He jokes with nurses.
He devours cheeseburgers with a grin that could melt the coldest heart.
And through it all, he keeps making progress in therapy — walking stronger, talking clearer, smiling bigger.

There was a scare one night when his port looked inflamed, and panic set in. But thankfully, it turned out to be just bruising. Crisis averted.

Now that surgery is off the table, Bowen will move into round three of chemotherapy. His body will be prepped with fluids before another high-dose methotrexate treatment — a powerful but necessary weapon in this fight.


🙏 The Hope That Keeps Them Going

Every day feels like a balancing act between fear and faith, between what they know and what they can only hope for.

Bowen’s story isn’t one of clear answers — it’s one of courage in uncertainty.
It’s learning to live in the gray areas.
It’s trusting that even when things don’t make sense, there’s still meaning in the fight.

And through it all, Bowen keeps teaching everyone around him the same lesson:
You don’t have to be big to be brave.
You just have to keep going.


💛 Please continue to keep Bowen and his family in your prayers — for strength, for protection, and for wisdom in every decision ahead.
Every good thought, every message, every prayer matters more than you know.

Because though this road is long and uncertain, Bowen’s light continues to shine — bright, steady, and full of hope.

Prayers for Krystal and Baby Colt – A Journey of Fragile Strength.1254

Krystal and Colt’s Story – A Journey of Fragile Strength

There are times in life when the courage of one person becomes the foundation of hope for another. Such is the story of Krystal Leonardson and her little boy, Colt Arthur—a mother and child whose journey into the world has been marked by fragility, sacrifice, and an unyielding fight for life.


A Mother’s Struggle

Krystal has faced more than her share of battles. Living with chronic heart and kidney problems, she has carried the weight of health challenges that would be overwhelming for many. Every day, her body has demanded more than most could imagine. And yet, when she discovered she was carrying new life within her, Krystal embraced the challenge with determination and love.

Pregnancy is never simple, but for Krystal, it was especially dangerous. The risks to both her and her child were high. Doctors warned her of complications, of the strain her heart and kidneys would endure, of the uncertainties that loomed ahead. Still, she held onto hope, trusting that somehow, they would both find strength for the journey.


The Long Days of Bedrest

At just a little over halfway through her pregnancy, Krystal’s doctors made the difficult decision: she would need to remain on strict bedrest if there was any chance of giving her baby more time to grow. What followed were two and a half months of confinement—long days and nights spent in a hospital bed, her body tethered to monitors, her mind consumed by worry and prayer.

Bedrest is not merely physical stillness—it is an emotional battle. Hours crawl by, filled with silence broken only by the hum of medical equipment. Every movement is restricted, every need dependent on others. For Krystal, it was a daily reminder of her vulnerability. Yet, it was also a powerful act of sacrifice. By staying still, by enduring isolation and discomfort, she gave her son the gift of time.

Her greatest wish was simple: that little Colt would have the strength to enter the world not too soon, that his tiny body would be given every extra day possible to prepare for life outside the womb.


Colt’s Arrival

Finally, after weeks of uncertainty, after tears and whispered prayers, Colt was born at 34 weeks—early, yes, but strong enough to survive. For Krystal and her family, his arrival was both a relief and a new beginning.

At just over eight months of gestation, Colt entered the world prematurely, but he came carrying the fierce resilience of his mother. His cries filled the delivery room, a sound that felt like music to the ears of all who had waited anxiously for him. For every day Krystal had endured in stillness, Colt now had a fighting chance at life.


The Weight of Fragile Beginnings

Premature birth, however, is never without challenges. Babies born at 34 weeks often face complications—underdeveloped lungs, difficulties feeding, struggles with maintaining body temperature, and the risk of infection. For Colt, each day became a small battle, a test of endurance for his tiny body.

Krystal, recovering from the strain of pregnancy and her own chronic illnesses, now found herself watching over her newborn in the neonatal unit. The sight of her little boy, so small and delicate, attached to wires and machines, broke her heart and strengthened it all at once. Every ounce of pain she had endured, every moment of sacrifice, was for him—for the hope that he would grow stronger with each passing day.


A Family’s Faith

In times like these, faith becomes the anchor that holds families steady. Krystal’s loved ones, friends, and community rallied around her, offering prayers, encouragement, and unwavering support. They celebrated each milestone—every ounce Colt gained, every feeding he managed, every improvement in his breathing.

Her family shared updates, calling for prayers not only for Colt’s fragile health but also for Krystal’s recovery. Balancing her own medical struggles with the demands of motherhood was no small task, but she did so with a love that knew no limits.


The Strength of a Mother’s Love

Krystal’s story is a testament to the strength of a mother’s love. Despite her weakened body, despite her chronic health conditions, she put her child’s life above everything else. She endured bedrest, loneliness, and fear, all for the chance to give Colt a better beginning.

This kind of sacrifice is not easily understood until one witnesses it firsthand. Krystal’s strength was not loud or dramatic—it was quiet, steady, unyielding. It was found in the long nights she spent staring at monitors, in the whispered prayers she spoke into the silence, in the gentle way she held her son’s tiny hand and promised him a future.


The Road Ahead

Though Colt has arrived, the journey is far from over. Babies born at 34 weeks often require extra care and patience as they grow. For Colt, each day is a step forward, a chance to strengthen his lungs, his heart, his little body. And for Krystal, the battle continues as she manages her own chronic conditions while pouring herself into the care of her newborn.

The road ahead may be uncertain, but it is paved with love. It is lined with the prayers of those who know their story, who pause in their day to lift up Krystal and Colt in thought and spirit. It is strengthened by the bond between mother and child, a bond forged in sacrifice and illuminated by hope.


A Call for Prayer

Today, Krystal’s family humbly asks for one thing: prayers. Prayers for Krystal’s continued strength as she recovers from months of strain and faces her ongoing health battles. Prayers for Colt’s growth, for his lungs to grow stronger, for his body to thrive despite his premature birth. Prayers for peace, for comfort, and for a future filled with joy.

Every whispered prayer matters. Every word of encouragement becomes a thread in the net of love and support that holds this family together.


Conclusion

Krystal Leonardson and her baby, Colt Arthur, remind us of the power of resilience, sacrifice, and faith. Their story is one of struggle, but also one of victory—because every day that Colt grows stronger is a day won against the odds.

Krystal’s love carried her through two and a half months of stillness, fear, and pain. Colt’s spirit carried him through the fragility of early birth. And now, together, their journey continues, each moment another chapter in a story of hope.

To everyone who reads these words: please keep Krystal and Colt in your thoughts and prayers. Pray for healing, for strength, for a future filled with laughter and light. Pray for a mother who has given everything for her child, and for a baby who has already proven that miracles happen every day.

Because in the end, this is more than a medical story. It is a love story—a mother’s love strong enough to carry two beating hearts, and a baby’s love strong enough to remind the world that even the smallest lives can hold immeasurable strength.