#Jaden's Journey

Dear friends and family, I am setting up this fundraising page in honor of my little buddy Jaden Taylor. I have had the honor and privilege to be Jaden's special education teacher a.k.a school mom for the past three years. He stole a piece of my heart the minute he walked into my classroom. It was a package deal because it also meant that I have developed a life-long friendship with his amazing mom, Felicia. She is honestly one of the strongest, most beautiful, caring, giving women I know. Jaden came into Felicia's life through foster care as an infant after suffering a traumatic brain injury. Despite how intense his medical and physical needs were, Felicia adopted Jaden and has dedicated her life to providing Jaden with the best life. She has loved him wholeheartedly and selflessly. He has been in and out of the hospital his entire life. He has endured many surgeries, medical procedures, and countless hours of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, all the while Felicia has put her own needs to the side to be there with him. Unfortunately, the last two years has been filled with several long hospital stays at Children's Mercy and Boston Children's Hospital to deal with unresolved G.I. issues. In May, Felicia and Jaden returned home from Boston with the heartbreaking news that there was nothing else for the doctors to do. Despite being at the #1 children's hospital for G.I. issues, the team was unable to figure out what was causing his pain. During the last two years Jaden has endured excruciating pain that even adult doses of medication couldn't touch. He became more and more unable to tolerate feedings, yet he still was able to bring joy to those around him and to be his charming self. In July, Jaden started to decline rapidly. He was put on hospice services in late July, but never in a million years did we think that he would be gone this soon. While there were still good moments, they became less frequent and the pain more than he could bear. The hope was that hospice would be able to help manage his pain and provide him with a good quality of life. In late July, Jaden received a trip of a lifetime through Make-a-wish. Felicia, Jaden, Jason, and Marah (one of Jaden's amazing caregivers) flew to Orlando to enjoy Disney World. While there were some great memories made, the trip was a difficult one. Jaden got sick and his pain was increasing. When I got a call from Felicia after their trip telling me that she didn't think he would be able to come to school, I was heartbroken! He brought so much joy and energy into my room. School was not the same without him. But we both were holding out hope that this was just a temporary bump in the road. Unfortunately we were both wrong. Over the last few weeks, Jaden was unable to tolerate any feeds, was sleeping more and more, and when he was awake he was in great pain. Last Friday a decision was made to move him to hospice house. While this was horrifyingly scary and sad, Jaden was surrounded by the people he loved most and those who loved him. On Saturday he had the most amazing birthday party, with the most amazing Diego cake. You see, yesterday, September 10th was to be his 9th birthday. We wanted to make sure that he had a birthday to remember. And then sadly, on Sunday September 8th. Jaden passed away peacefully in his sleep. While all of us who love him are beyond heartbroken, he is whole again. Yesterday we went to his favorite inclusive park and sent him balloons in Heaven with our favorite memories of him. Here comes the hardest part, life goes on. This is the part where Felicia and Jason need us most. They need our prayers, kind words and thougts, our support. And they need us to help take care of some things financially. As I said before, Felicia has been unable to work consistently over the last couple of years, due to hospital stays, trips to Boston, and not always having someone able to help with the boys. I am asking you for help to keep Felicia and Jason afloat until she is back on her feet. This money will be used to help cover the costs of Jaden's funeral and all the things that entails and to help with life expenses (food, rent, etc...). They will be so grateful and appreciative of whatever you can give. If you aren't in a position to give righy now, I ask for you continued thoughts and prayers. Felicia is an amazing, giving woman and I want her to know that her village has her back. If you would rather give directly to Felicia, please contact her or myself. With lots of love and thanks, Mona