Austin: the journey to a better tomorrow

08/12/2026

One more Walk4NF has been added this year!

We're excited to welcome Queeny Park in St. Louis, MO to our 2026 Walk4NF lineup, thanks to the Kadden family, who are helping bring Walk4NF to the St. Louis area.

Their family is inviting the St. Louis community to come together, meet others who understand life with NF, and help raise awareness.

📍 Queeny Park — 1675 S Mason Rd, St. Louis, MO 63131
🗓️ Sunday, September 27th | 1:00–4:00 p.m.

Registration is free! Come on your own, bring your family and friends, or start a team.

Registration link in comments.

08/03/2026

Back-to-school season is here, and if anyone would like to help my kids get the school supplies they need, I've put together an Amazon Wishlist to make it easy.

Every single item, big or small, makes a huge difference, and any kindness during this time is truly appreciated more than you know. ❤️

If you'd like to help, you can check out the wishlist here:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1H3M8D17E9E4U?ref_=wl_share

Thank you to everyone who has supported my family. Your generosity means the world to us. 📚✏️🎒💙

And thank you to those who reached out asking me to also make a list and the support we have had through Austins medical journey

07/22/2026

So this is a really good watch actually if you have the time, from an organization that helped with some of Austins clinical trial needs. It really breaks down a lot!

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

07/15/2026

A huge thank you to EcoFlow for engineering products we can truly depend on.

Traveling with temperature-sensitive medication can be stressful, but throughout Austin's Make-A-Wish trip, our EcoFlow Rapid 25,000 mAh power bank gave us one less thing to worry about.

We plugged it into Austin's portable medication cooler at approximately 10:30 a.m. before leaving Nassau. After traveling through the airport, flying to Orlando, our layover, and our final flight home, we touched down in St. Louis at 8:26 p.m.—nearly 10 hours later—and the power bank still had 15% battery remaining.

This wasn't our first experience with EcoFlow either. We also rely on EcoFlow to power the larger medical transport cooler we use to safely bring Austin's investigational medication home from the university pharmacy, as well as the dedicated backup power system protecting his medical refrigerator at home.

Austin is participating in a clinical trial using Strensiq (asfotase alfa) in an effort to help heal and regrow his ulna affected by NF1-associated pseudoarthrosis. Because the medication must remain refrigerated, having reliable backup power provides invaluable peace of mind whenever we travel or transport it.

Thank you, EcoFlow, for building products our family can truly count on. 💙

07/15/2026

If you want to know what Make-A-Wish is really about... just listen to Austin. 💙
No script. No rehearsals. Just Austin sharing, in his own words, what meant the most to him about having his wish come true.

These moments are why Make-A-Wish exists. They remind us that even in the middle of difficult medical journeys, there is still room for joy, wonder, and unforgettable memories.

Thank you to everyone who made this dream possible. We hope Austin's story brings a smile to your face the same way this trip brought one to his.

💙 Sometimes the most powerful words are the simplest ones. We would also like to take the time to thank everyone who helped us and worked to make this go off without a hitch! Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas, St. Louis Lambert International Airport, and the administration/ management team over at Southwest Airlines, and of course Atlantis Bahamas!

07/15/2026

One wish. A lifetime of memories. 💙
As our family's Make-A-Wish journey comes to an end, it's hard to put into words just how grateful we are.

Over the past few days, Austin experienced things he had dreamed about for so long. He swam with dolphins, conquered water slides, explored marine habitats filled with sharks, stingrays, sea turtles and countless other incredible animals, and simply got to be a kid.

For a little while, hospital rooms, MRIs, surgeries, chemotherapy, clinic visits, and everything that comes with living with Neurofibromatosis faded into the background. This trip wasn't about his diagnosis—it was about his smile.

Every laugh, every adventure, every sunset, and every memory reminded us why organizations like Make-A-Wish are so important. They don't just grant wishes—they give families precious time together and create memories that will last forever.

To everyone at Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas , Atlantis Paradise Island, and everyone who helped make this dream possible... thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You gave Austin something no illness can ever take away.
This may be the end of our wish trip, but it certainly isn't the end of Austin's journey.

We'll continue advocating for Neurofibromatosis awareness, research, and hope for every child and family facing this disease.

💙 Thank you for following along with our adventure.

07/15/2026

Come along and experience one of Austin's favorite slides with him! 🌊💙

07/15/2026

Adventure was calling... and Austin answered. 🦈💙

One of Austin's favorite attractions at Atlantis was The Serpent. Twisting through the Mayan Temple before floating through a clear tunnel surrounded by sharks and other incredible marine life, it quickly became one of the highlights of his Make-A-Wish trip.
Watching him laugh, smile, and immediately want to go again reminded us exactly what this trip was all about.

For a little while, there were no hospital rooms, MRIs, surgeries, or treatments. There was just a boy enjoying every second of an unforgettable adventure.

💙 That's what a wish is all about.

07/15/2026

Brother vs. Brother... and smiles all the way down! 🌊💙
One of Austin's favorite parts of Atlantis was racing down the Challenger Slides with his big brother, Dallas.
There were plenty of laughs, a little friendly competition, and countless trips back to the top for "just one more ride."
For a few days, life wasn't about hospital appointments, MRIs, surgeries, or Neurofibromatosis. It was about making memories with family and simply enjoying being a kid.
Moments like these are exactly what Make-A-Wish is all about.
💙

07/11/2026

A wish over a year in the making... 💙🐬

Today wasn't about hospitals, MRIs, chemotherapy, surgeries, or clinical trials.
Today was about a little boy's dream coming true.

As part of Austin's Make-A-Wish trip, he had the incredible opportunity to meet and interact with the amazing dolphins at Dolphin Cay at Atlantis Paradise Island. He even had the chance to meet one of Dolphin Cay's oldest and largest dolphins, who shared the habitat with her daughter—a special experience we won't soon forget.

Watching Austin smile, laugh, and connect with such an incredible animal is something our family will treasure forever.

For a little while, NF1, brain tumors, hydrocephalus, and all the challenges that come with them took a back seat. Today, Austin simply got to be a kid—and that is a gift beyond words.

We are incredibly grateful to Make-A-Wish, the staff at Atlantis Paradise Island, and the amazing trainers and caregivers at Dolphin Cay for making this experience so memorable. Thank you for the compassion, care, and joy you bring to families like ours.

Moments like these remind us that while rare diseases can change a child's life, they don't have to define it. Every child deserves the chance to dream, explore, and make memories that will last a lifetime.

💙💚 Thank you for helping make one very special wish come true.