Coping with a child’s disability is one of the most profound and exhausting challenges a parent can face. It is not something you ever truly get used to. No parent wakes up expecting to face a lifetime of constant vigilance, surgeries, therapies, and medical crises. Yet, when your child’s health and future are on the line, you realize that love alone is not enough—you must do everything in your power to protect, support, and save them. Every decision, every action, every moment of attention matters. You learn quickly that life no longer belongs solely to you, but to the fragile body and mind of the child you have sworn to fight for.
Kacperek will turn five this December, yet his journey has already been more difficult than most adults could endure in a lifetime. He was born with Arnold Chiari Malformation, a complex congenital defect in which the smaller volume of the skull forces the posterior part of his brain into the canal meant for the spinal cord. The consequences are profound and relentless: constant headaches, pain, stiffness in muscles, limited mobility, and a multitude of neurological complications. Even the simplest movements, which most children take for granted, require intense effort, therapy, and monitoring. The condition is lifelong and progressive, meaning that the earlier we intervene, the better the chance Kacperek has at some level of independence.
Unfortunately, this was just the beginning of his medical struggles. Last year, Kacperek was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, adding yet another layer of challenges to his daily life. The diagnosis brought new responsibilities: therapies tailored to his sensory and behavioral needs, constant observation, and the delicate task of helping him communicate and interact safely with the world. His condition demands patience, resilience, and unwavering dedication from every member of our family. There are no shortcuts or breaks; progress is painstakingly slow and must be reinforced daily.
From his earliest days, Kacperek has also had to follow a strict diet due to celiac disease. Even a trace amount of gluten can trigger severe diarrhea, dehydration, and hospitalizations. We have already experienced this five times. Each episode is terrifying, exhausting, and emotionally draining. The fear of a single misstep, a crumb of bread, or a shared snack can transform even the most ordinary day into a battle for his health. These dietary limitations, combined with his other conditions, require meticulous planning for every meal, outing, and activity.
Our family calendar is filled with appointments: specialists, physical therapists, psychologists, speech therapists, and regular check-ups. Each session, each consultation, each exercise is critical. Surgeries have been scheduled and will continue to be necessary as Kacperek grows. Rehabilitation, therapy, and continuous monitoring are essential to ensure that he develops as best he can, to improve his quality of life, and to prevent complications that could permanently limit his independence. What nature took from him, we must try to restore with the help of dedicated professionals.
Despite all the care, progress is slow and often painful. Kacperek struggles daily with stiffness and pain that limits his mobility. He cannot yet function in the world like other children his age. Every improvement, no matter how small, requires immense effort from both him and our family. Each step forward is a victory, a glimmer of hope, and proof that his hard work and determination are paying off. But hope comes at an extraordinary cost. The surgeries, treatments, and therapies that can truly transform his life are financially overwhelming. Specialized procedures, rehabilitation, and continuous medical care are far beyond what our family can manage alone. Without external support, the road ahead for Kacperek would be almost impossible to navigate.
The pandemic has made everything even harder. Rehabilitation programs were suspended, slowing progress. Recent tests have revealed additional concerns — potential hip defects that, if confirmed, will require further surgery and therapy. These developments remind me that our journey is far from over and that we must fight harder than ever for his future. The path ahead will be long, filled with operating rooms, therapy sessions, and constant care, but I am ready to do everything necessary if it means Kacperek can live a life with less pain, more mobility, and greater independence.
I dream of the day when Kacperek can walk freely, run safely, and experience the world without constant pain. I dream of watching him take his first steps without wincing, without stopping after a few painful movements, and without the fear that every day will bring setbacks. That dream feels impossible to achieve without your help. Every contribution, every act of support, every kind word can give him the chance to walk toward a future where illness does not dictate every action.
Today, I ask with all my heart: please help me give my child the opportunity to live fully, to move freely, and to grow without constant limitations. Every step he takes without pain will be a triumph shared with everyone who helps make this possible. Your generosity can transform his life.
Klaudia, Kacper’s mother
The Little Warrior: Trey’s Unbreakable Fight Against Childhood Cancer.615
If you need a reason to believe in strength, look no further than a five-year-old boy named Trey Lowman from Louisville, Kentucky. His story is not one of tragedy — but of unyielding courage, a mother’s faith, and the miracle of a child’s light that refuses to fade, even in the darkest hours.
Trey’s mother, Ebony Lowman, remembers the day that changed their lives forever — March 10, 2023.
Her little boy, just a toddler at the time, was diagnosed with
Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor (ATRT), an incredibly rare and aggressive form of brain cancer that affects fewer than sixty children in the United States each year. The doctors’ words were shattering:
there is no known cure.
But Trey, small yet mighty, chose to fight.
He has endured what no child should ever have to — four rounds of high-dose chemotherapy,
two brain surgeries, a stem cell transplant, and 29 rounds of proton radiation. Through it all, he never stopped smiling. He found laughter in hospital corridors, joy in simple moments, and strength in his faith.
When he finished treatment on November 19, 2023, his family celebrated his remission with tears of relief and gratitude. For nine precious months, Trey lived cancer-free. They cherished every sunrise, every giggle, every moment that felt wonderfully normal.
Then, in August 2024, their world trembled again — the cancer had returned.
Trey underwent laser ablation brain surgery, followed by five more rounds of photon radiation to his optical nerve. His parents held on to hope, believing — praying — that this round would stop the tumor’s growth.
But on September 19, 2025, came the news no parent ever wants to hear: Trey’s cancer had spread to his brain stem and spine. Once again, this tiny warrior found himself facing
20 more rounds of radiation. The treatments are harsh, the pain immense, but Trey continues to meet each day with the same quiet bravery that has carried him this far.
For Ebony and her husband, the journey has been all-consuming. Ebony left her career to become Trey’s full-time caregiver, while her husband works tirelessly to keep their family going. There are moments of exhaustion, fear, and tears — but there is also faith.
“It hasn’t been easy,” Ebony shares, “but God and our love for Trey give us strength every single day. We continue to walk by faith, holding on to hope and praying that our brave son can withstand this battle.”
Despite endless hospital visits and long nights of worry, Trey continues to light up every room he enters. His smile — wide and pure — tells a story stronger than any diagnosis. Nurses and doctors alike say his spirit is contagious; his laughter reminds them why they fight for every child.
Over the past two years, Ebony has become an advocate for childhood cancer awareness, determined that no family should ever face this kind of journey alone. She raises her voice for every parent sitting beside a hospital bed, every child too tired to lift their head but still brave enough to smile. “We are firm believers in the power of prayer and community,” she says. “And Trey reminds us every day that love can endure anything.”
Now, as Trey nears the end of yet another cycle of radiation, the family holds tight to hope — praying for more time, more milestones, more laughter. “We are praying this treatment slows down the cancer and that God gives us more time with our precious boy,” Ebony says softly.
Trey’s story is not just about illness. It’s about resilience, faith, and the extraordinary strength found in the smallest hearts.
He has taught everyone around him what it truly means to rise after every fall, to fight even when the odds are impossible, and to shine when the world feels dark.
So, as you begin your Saturday, let Trey be your reminder: courage doesn’t come from having an easy life — it comes from facing the storm and still smiling through it.
Because even at five years old, this little boy from Kentucky embodies the kind of spirit that moves mountains.
Trey Lowman is an inspiration.
May we learn from him the meaning of perseverance.
And may he, in turn, be lifted by the love and prayers of a world that stands with him — one heartbeat, one hope, one miracle at a time. 💛
