CLINTON — Little Berkley Dearman, affectionately known as Super Berkley, continues to inspire the community with her strength, faith, and bright spirit. Her family has announced a major milestone in her recovery — she’s officially cleared for her ileostomy reversal surgery.
The Dearman family have traveled back to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. Berkley will spend November 3rd undergoing a full day of appointments, labs, and imaging before her surgery on November 4th.
Doctors expect she will remain at St. Jude through the week, followed by about a two-week recovery period. Before she left, Berkley got to enjoy a little Trick-or-Treat fun with her classmates.
A Little Girl’s Big Faith
When her mom, Katie Dearman, told Berkley that she’d soon “go to sleep and wake up without a bag,” Berkley replied with the innocent confidence that has come to define her journey.
“She told me she didn’t need to go to the doctor — Jesus was going to do it,” Katie shared. “I just love her childlike faith.”
Even as excitement builds, the family admits the upcoming hospital visit brings mixed emotions. After more than 100 days of hospitalizations earlier this year, the walls of St. Jude carry memories that are both miraculous and difficult.
“While we are so excited, of course fear has crept in,” Katie said. “It will be her first time exposed to any new medications. Obviously, the hospital also holds trauma for all of us. Pray for our hearts. Pray we don’t let fear overtake any of our joy. Pray for a successful surgery.”
A Community Still Praying
Berkley’s journey has been one of resilience and divine grace. She’s overcome life-threatening conditions including HLH, septic shock, and multiple surgeries — and through it all, her family and community have surrounded her with prayer and love.
Now, as they prepare for this next step, the Dearmans are once again leaning on faith and the prayers of those who have followed Berkley’s story since the beginning.
“My prayer has been that God eases her nerves and she feels Jesus all around her,” Katie said. “She is so brave.”
With just a few days until surgery, the countdown has begun for another chapter in Berkley’s miraculous recovery — one marked by courage, faith, and the unwavering belief that God’s not finished writing her story.
“Our walking miracle” | Berkley heads home after 108 days
September 29, 2025
CLINTON — For the first time since May, three-year-old Berkley Dearman is on her way home—something her family has prayed and waited for through 108 long days of hospital stays, setbacks, and miracles. It was the summer of 2025 when the Dearman family learned their little girl was diagnosed with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis, or HLH.
HLH is a rare, severe systemic inflammatory syndrome, where the body’s immune system essentially goes haywire, attacking healthy tissue. She been through months of ups and downs with not only her family by her side, but an entire community cheering her on.
Her mother, Katie Dearman, shared the emotional update with gratitude overflowing:
“Berkley is headed home for the first time since May!!!! Dr. Campbell gave us the okay to go home until Wednesday!! We will be back for appointments with immunologist and him on Thursday and Friday!”
Big Steps Forward in Treatment
Doctors are confident in Berkley’s progress. She is now officially off Anakinra, one of her HLH medications.
“They don’t feel as though this was helping with DRESS anyways,” Dearman explained. “This is a HLH drug, not typically used for DRESS. DRESS does require a slow wean of immunosuppressant medications, so we’ll carefully taper off her last one (oral medication), sooner rather than later due to liver enzymes being elevated. But we do not foresee this being an issue of completely stopping Anakinra. So that means NO SHOTS for Berkley!!”
Her entire care team celebrated the milestone alongside her family.
“Her whole care team was so excited for her/us, and even saw a few of her other doctors and they made it such a big deal to her that she was going home. Her smile and laughter was the best.”
Berkley | The Road Home
The moment the doctor said “yes,” Dearman didn’t hesitate.
“He asked when we would be headed back, and I laughed and said, ‘Now!’ So here we are about to leave after I threw everything in the car!” she said.
The family arrived home around 9 p.m., and Berkley couldn’t stop talking about the reunion she was most looking forward to.
“Not sure what Daddy, Bubba, and Rylie will think when they hear her say ‘Sassy!’ was who she was going home to see! Sassy is our cat, who she is scared of so this made me laugh.”
A Child’s Simple Faith
What touches Katie Dearman most is Berkley’s growing understanding of the One she says truly carried her through.
“Even Berkley knows who saved her,” Dearman shared. “When she was playing with her baby doll this morning she said, ‘Jesus saved me at the hospital, and He’s going to take my bag off, too.’ I tried to hit record so fast, but just like that, she moved on. Because it’s just such a truth and matter of fact to her. But to hear her say that at three already means she’s starting to tell her testimony…and what a great one it will be! ‘Out of the mouths of babies…’”
A Homecoming to Remember
After 108 days, the Dearmans are finally able to return to their home in Zachary—at least for a few days before heading back for more appointments.
“I can’t wait to have my family together even if it is just for a few days!!! God is so good. I just can’t say it enough. I can’t wait to walk in our house with our walking miracle. Our journey is so close to coming to an end, we can taste it!!!”
The family plans to spend the next few days enjoying normal moments again—watching soccer and baseball, playing outdoors, and soaking up precious time together.
“If you see us at soccer or the ballfield in the corner, give us a big wave! It will put such a big smile on her face! We will be enjoying some outdoor time, away from crowds but still seeing the big kiddos play! Berkley will be able to be around everyone SOON, just not quite yet. We can’t wait for this day! What a special reunion it will be with everyone!!!”
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