Faith Over Fear - Team Tristan

03/01/2026

First chemo is complete ✅
Tristan is doing well so far after chemo. He has to take one dose of a medication after each treatment that’s meant to protect his hearing. That medication made him very sick, but they were able to make him feel better within 30 minutes.

We made it home late last night, and the plan is to go back next Thursday for a smaller dose of chemo. The most important thing right now is to watch closely for infection due to his compromised immune system and his nutrition.

Thank you all for the continued prayers — we truly appreciate the love and support. 💛

02/28/2026

02/26/2026

Tristan Update:
Tristan received his port and ear tubes yesterday. The port is located in his chest and will be used for chemotherapy treatments. This means he won’t have to be poked with needles each time, which he is very happy about. The ear tubes will help relieve some of the pain caused by the tumor. The tumor has been pushing against his eustachian tube, causing fluid buildup, so the tubes will help the fluid drain until treatment shrinks the tumor.

Plan of Care:
As of right now, chemotherapy will begin tomorrow. Tristan is part of a clinical trial because this is an extremely rare type of cancer, his doctor believes there are only about 20 cases per year in the U.S. This trial is designed to reduce the toxicity and intensity of treatment.
-The first phase will consist of three cycles of chemotherapy. The second phase will include both chemotherapy and radiation at the same time. We have been told this phase will, by far, be the hardest. During radiation, we will need to stay in Little Rock for approximately 4–6 weeks since treatment will be given daily. Radiation to the head and neck area can cause some very severe side effects.
-The final phase will be maintenance immunotherapy, which should be the downhill stretch of treatment. Surgery is not an option due to the tumor’s location and how invasive it would need to be.
All that being said, the doctors believe this is treatable and curable. They believe it is stage 2 because of the tumor’s size and because it has spread to one lymph node in the localized area.

Prayers:
Please pray that Tristan continues to have such a positive spirit and peace of mind. Pray that he experiences minimal side effects from the upcoming treatments. Pray for his doctors and healthcare staff, that they are guided in providing Tristan with the very best care.
Overall, the last two weeks have been exhausting. There’s been a constant list of potential side effects and precautions to think about. However, Tristan has been such a trooper. He truly makes everyone around him feel better.

Tristan and our entire family deeply appreciate all the support he has received. He gets so excited every time someone buys his shirt.

02/24/2026

💙💛 TEAM TRISTAN 💛💙

At just 14 years old, Tristan is facing nasopharyngeal carcinoma with incredible strength and steady faith.

RUN HARD. FIGHT HARDER.
Faith > Fear
Joshua 1:9

This shirt represents more than a phrase — it represents the way he’s choosing to face this fight: determined, focused, and faithful.

We are standing with him.
We are running this race beside him.

💛 Childhood & Adolescent Cancer Awareness
💛 Supporting Tristan’s fight

If you’d like to order a shirt or support Tristan, message us!

Tees S-XL $20
Sweatshirts S-XL $35
2xl add $2.50
3xl add $3.50

Let’s show him he doesn’t run this race alone.

02/24/2026

02/24/2026

💙💛 Community Matters. And Today, We Felt It. 💛💙

As Tristan prepares to begin chemo treatment, one of the big steps was getting a haircut. It may seem simple — but moments like that carry weight.

The Cave Barbershop went above and beyond for him.

Not only did they take care of him with kindness and respect, they surprised him with his favorite snacks, gift cards for Xbox, a massage, and even KC Chiefs tickets. 💛

They didn’t just give him a haircut.
They gave him encouragement.
They gave him a boost.
They made him feel seen.

In the middle of something hard, that meant more than we can say.

We are so grateful for businesses that show up for our kids and our community like this.

If you’re local, go support The Cave Barbershop. They are the real deal.

Thank you for loving Tristan so well. 💛