Walking Hope: Walker’s Journey with a Rare Vascular Malformation

08/28/2026

A story of survival, strength, and unwavering faith.

A couple weeks ago, I sat down on Testimony Thursdays to share our 2.5-year-old son Walker’s medical journey. For 52 minutes, I open up about the raw reality of navigating his rare vascular malformation, the recurrent tumors on his face and scalp, and how God has sustained our family.

I talk about our scary emergency room milestones, our battles with insurance, and the incredible hope we found in a new needleless treatment in Italy that we are traveling for early next year. Most importantly, I share what happened when I stopped trying to be the author of this story and handed the pen to God.

If you are walking through a storm, I pray Walker’s joyful spirit and our testimony bring you peace. Thank you for being part of our amazing village! ⬇️ ♥️

⏱️ KEY MOMENTS IN THE VIDEO:

[00:00] - Introduction & Morning Scripture

[02:00] - My background as an OT & how God prepared me

[13:00] - Walker's birth, early symptoms, & finding a rare diagnosis

[20:45] - Identifying the gene mutation & fighting insurance

[22:40] - The Super Bowl Sunday emergency & surgery

[27:45] - Discovering the needleless electrosclerotherapy treatment in Italy

[35:00] - Relinquishing control to God & finding unshakeable peace

[39:35] - Walker’s joyful personality in the midst of hard days

[42:30] - Seeing God's faithfulness lined up in everyday interactions

[48:45] - Our upcoming travel plans to Italy

This episode of Testimony Thursdays featured Ali , an occupational ...

08/24/2026

Join us! 🏃‍♀️ ♥️

Thank you for sharing Walker’s Story!

Miles For Vascular Anomalies Run Walk Club
Vascular Anomalies Alliance

Family’s like the Pedrick family are who we run and walk for. today we are highlighting a special kiddo from the birthmark community meet Walker. His family just joined the Miles For Vascular Anomalies Run walk Club. Please take a moment to read his inspiring story.

Walker is a silly and energetic 2 and a half year old. He was born with a vascular malformation and a mosaic BRAF gene mutation, an extremely rare condition that causes rapid vascular tumor growth on his face, eyelid and scalp.

In just two short years, Walker has undergone 11 surgeries to remove over 18 bleeding tumors and has trialed 6 different medications in the search for effective treatment. He now takes daily oral cancer medication, which thankfully has prevented new tumors from developing for the last 10 months.

While most toddlers are busy exploring the world, Walker is courageously facing challenges that no child should have to endure.

Despite everything, he continues to show us what strength, resilience, and joy truly look like.

We are sharing Walker’s journey to raise awareness and help others learn about vascular anomalies.

Next year, we will travel to Italy for a promising new treatment, needleless electrosclerotherapy, which can treat the affected tissue directly and hopefully allow Walker to come off daily oral cancer medication.

08/23/2026

If you’re new here, welcome to Walker’s journey.

This is why we’re traveling all the way to Italy.

08/21/2026

Take a moment to learn more about Colm and his story. His family is fighting to get him to Milan for treatment to help him breathe easier.

Colm's Venous Malformation Journey

We received some hard to swallow news yesterday.

We were just informed that Colm’s procedure and hospital bills in Italy have to be paid upfront before we even arrive. We are still waiting to see how much we are exactly facing, but we were also told to expect to be there up to 1 month.

As a mother, that is terrifying. To know there is a treatment available that could help your baby breathe easier, but that you have to somehow come up with the money first, is a feeling I can’t really put into words.

All I want to do is get my baby the care he needs.

At the same time, my husband and I are still raising our other two children, trying to keep life as normal as possible for them, managing all of the everyday expenses that don’t stop just because your child is sick, and I’m still trying to make it through nurse practitioner school. Some days it feels like we are carrying more than we ever thought we could.

I look at Colm and I don’t see a diagnosis or a medical bill. I see my baby boy. I see his smile, his little personality, his siblings loving on him, and the entire life ahead of him that I am fighting so hard for.

We just need to get him there.

We are beyond grateful for everything that has already been raised for Colm, but there is still more to be raised.

From one mamas heart, thank you for helping us fight for our little boy.

💙 GoFundMe:
www.GoFundMe.com/HelpColmBreathe

💙 Venmo:


💙 Zelle:
386-334-1637

💙TShirt:
http://bonfire.com/crossing-oceans-for-colm

08/21/2026

Walker has some exciting news!

We’re going to NEW YORK CITY in October for Vascular Birthmarks Foundation Super Clinic!

Who else is going?

Any suggestions on places to eat or see while we’re there?

We are so excited to see our friends in person and finalize treatment plans with Dr. Colletti for Italy 2027.

08/19/2026

October 2025

October took us to NYC for the annual Vascular Birthmark Super Clinic. Two days filled with expert consultations, ultrasounds, and meeting families walking a similar path.

Walker got to play with kids who looked like him, and we met Dr. Colletti, who reminded us that although our options are limited today, the science is advancing quickly. Better treatments may be closer than we realize.

We left without clear answers, but we left with hope.

Then, after just one week off medication, three tumors grew rapidly and another surgery was needed.

We may not know what’s ahead, but we know God is still writing the story.

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” - Isaiah 43:19

08/18/2026

Passport tips!

Don’t do what I did.

08/17/2026

Applied for Walkers passport today! ♥️ 🇮🇹

I tried to apply without an appointment with both kids…. 😵‍💫 🤪 🫣

Word of wisdom: make an appointment ahead of time! Print and pre-fill the application!!

The lobby was 100 degrees and both kids were silly as can be.

Pic of the troublemakers for tax