A Little Cake. Another Beginning for Julie. ❤️
Twenty-nine days ago, Julie heard another patient ring the bell.
She smiled as the room filled with applause. We shared that moment with you because, for a little while, she could imagine herself standing there one day.
Since then, Julie has taken the next big step toward that hope. Her chemotherapy began on November 2 at UC Davis, followed by her stem cell transplant on November 4 and 5.
And during those transplant days, her care team brought her a cake. A little cake, beside a hospital bed, with words that meant so much:
Words to celebrate, even with so much still ahead.
You can imagine what that moment meant after everything Julie has been through. The months of treatment. The appointments. The waiting. And then, sitting there with a cake in her hands, a chance to celebrate another beginning.
Ten years ago, she experienced a similar moment at Stanford. Now, it feels as though the LORD has given her a third life.
What a precious gift to hold in our hearts. What a reason to keep praying.
But this morning, there was another picture. Her blood counts were dropping—her platelets, white and red blood cells, and hemoglobin levels.
Julie was resting beneath a blue blanket. Her eyes closed. The equipment for her ongoing care beside her.
We wanted to share that photograph, too. Because we love seeing her smile. And we want you to understand how much she is going through between those smiles.
The transplant was a milestone we prayed she would reach. Now she faces daily Cellular Therapy appointments, expected every day through November 22, with the final appointment times still being arranged.
One morning, then the next. Another appointment. More hours away from home.
And somewhere in those days, there is still room for a smile. Someone sitting close beside her. A familiar face on a phone screen. A little cake that gives everyone a reason to pause and celebrate.
Those moments mean so much right now. And so do all of you.
Every donation, every prayer, every message, and every time you share Julie’s story helps carry this journey forward. Your generosity helps with treatment-related expenses, travel, staying near her care team, and the recovery still ahead.
If you have been thinking about helping Julie, your support would mean so much right now. These daily appointments are happening now. The need for support continues, even after a milestone as important as her transplant.
A gift of any size, a shared link, or a personal introduction to someone who might help can make a difference.
Please keep praying for strength for Julie, comfort through the difficult hours, and healing. Please remember her family and everyone taking turns standing beside her.
Twenty-nine days ago, a bell gave Julie a glimpse of what might be ahead. This month, she held a cake in her hands, with hope for a new beginning in her eyes. There is still a long way to go.
We are standing with her through every one of those moments.
