Four kids means four times the noise, the laughter, the chaos—and the love. Kirstin and Tomas Czernek say it often feels like they’re raising 400. But they wouldn’t have it any other way.

“We’re just a wild family brought together,” Kirstin says. “We’re blessed with Mia and Kai through adoption through foster care. Aria is our biological daughter and has Down syndrome, which made us pursue adopting Luca, who also has Down syndrome.”

When Kirstin and Tomas Czernek adopted their son Luca, they knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy. Born with severe pulmonary hypertension and diagnosed with Down syndrome, Luca spent the first three months of his life in the NICU. At just one year old, the road got harder: he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

For months, the halls of TriStar Centennial Children’s Hospital became home. The family braced for what they were told would be six rounds of chemotherapy, each requiring a month-long stay in the hospital, with only a week’s break in between. Weeks turned into months. Life became a patchwork of hospital visits, childcare juggling, and moments stolen in the quiet of oncology halls. 

While his siblings waited at home, Luca—all quiet strength and signature smile—became “the mayor of the floor.” TriStar’s nurses, doctors, and techs rallied alongside his parents for six grueling rounds of treatments.

This past summer, those same hospital halls echoed cheers, music, and tears of joy as Luca rang the ceremonial bell to signal the end of treatment

“Luca is doing so well, and he’ll be home for good,” said Kirstin. “We’re excited to experience life with him without having this battle. . . . That’s what we’re all looking forward to.”

Through every appointment, overnight stay, and tearful moment, TriStar Centennial didn’t just treat Luca’s illness — they held the whole family through it. They created room for healing, for resilience, and for hope.

Read more here.