2026

When a child needs major surgery, a family prepares as best they can. You make plans, gather your strength, and hold on to hope.

That was our family’s reality last year when our son, Darius, underwent a complex and lengthy brain surgery. We knew the journey would be challenging, but we could never have imagined the complications that followed, or how quickly our world would be turned upside down.

Suddenly, far from home, we were exhausted, overwhelmed, and trying to stay strong for our child during the most frightening time of our lives.

That is when Wesway stepped in. Through donor-supported crisis funding, Wesway made something extraordinary possible: they ensured our family wouldn’t have to face those terrifying days alone. They provided the support needed so that Sidney, who already knew Darius and understood his care could be with us.

Her arrival felt like a lifeline. In the middle of fear, exhaustion, and endless medical decisions, Sidney brought familiarity, calm, and stability. But most importantly, she gave us true respite, the kind of relief caregivers rarely get, especially in crisis. She stepped in so we could step back for a moment. She helped us communicate with hospital staff, and created space for us to rest, eat, breathe, and gather the strength to keep going.

And her presence didn’t just support us; it supported Darius in ways we will never forget. Having someone he already trusted by his side brought him comfort during moments when we couldn’t be there. That sense of safety and love helped him stay calm, helped him feel less alone, and gave him strength to keep fighting through the hardest days of his young life. In many ways, that familiar support helped save him too.

Without that respite, I don’t know how we would have managed.

Wesway gave our family the time and capacity to function during one of the hardest chapters of our lives. They protected our mental health when we were running on empty. They helped hold our family together.