Cadence Sales and His Family

My name is Rachel Buonanducci, and I truly appreciate you taking the time to read my family’s story. My 8-year-old nephew, Cadence, is currently fighting for his life at the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford, CT. Around the first week of April, he contracted the flu which progressed to strep pneumonia. He was admitted into the pediatric intensive care unit and put on a breathing machine. The hospital staff discovered multiple infections that he was fighting. Unfortunately, his oxygen levels were so low and showed no improvement so he was intubated, and a chest tube was placed in his lung to try and drain the fluid and inflate the lung. However, there was so much infection and a collapse of the lung that this did not appear to correct the problem. His heart function started to decline so they put a central line in his neck to administer additional medications. Within a day, the doctors and the team at CCMC determined that his best chance of survival would be to place him on an ECMO machine and dialysis. He has received blood transfusions, nutrition via a feeding tube, and medications of various types to try to keep his heart beating, clear up infections, keep him comfortable, and excrete toxins.

Cadence is a 3rd grade student at Clover Elementary School in Windsor, CT. He enjoys playing football and basketball. He is a quarterback for his football team. He loves the Patriots and his favorite players are Matthew Judon, Ja’Marr Chase, and Justin Jefferson. When he is not playing sports or doing his school work he likes to spend time with his sister, Natalia, who he absolutely adores. They are two peas in a pod. He is such an active kid with a fun-loving spirit. Cadence is silly and energetic. He is always thinking of others, wants to make people laugh, and has so much love to give.

This whole experience has been extremely traumatic for our family. My sister, Jamie, and her family have been at his bedside the whole time, having to make life-changing decisions for their child. Meanwhile, our family has stepped in to support them and my 9-year-old niece, Natalia. No parent should ever have to experience this. No child should have to be put through this type of medical intervention to survive. If he survives, the recovery will be extensive. There is no way to know what the outcome will be.

I am asking for financial help for my sister and her family so they can focus on their child and not have to worry or stress over bills. Financially, my brother-in-law does not have paid medical leave. It’s been very difficult for him to work, as he needs to remain available and nearby for important decisions and to be there for Cadence. They are worried about leaving Cadence’s side because they don’t know what could happen minute to minute. Meanwhile, bills and daily costs are adding up. These include regular household bills in addition to the costs of staying at the hospital. We also don’t know what future medical expenses may be. Please consider donating to help them. My family is the most important thing to me and if I could support them financially, I would. But I can’t, so I’m asking for your help. Anything you can contribute would be greatly appreciated. Please know from the bottom of my heart, and from my family, THANK YOU!