Hello World,

My name is Brittney Schade. I am here today to tell you about two boys, two families, and the fight to save one’s life honoring the memory of one to fight for another.

 

On July 23, 2008, my son Cale, age 2, passed away in a tragic farming accident.

Time. We move forward in our lives, making what was once unbearable rawness grow into a tolerable ache we manage to carry daily. It has been 14 years since Cale passed. Fourteen whole years since God called my son home.

Time is a funny thing, forever moving, forever in one direction.

 

One night in bed, I came across a story about a family whose names I'd never heard and a picture of a little boy I'd never seen. Blonde hair and a big, beautiful smile stared back at me, reminding me of a little boy I once knew.

 

The story shared a glimpse into this family's life and their journey to find a kidney for their 4-year-old son. Clayton was blessed with a Kidney in May of 2021. Shortly after his transplant, Clayton had to drive hours several times a week for NIG Rejection Therapy.

Clayton was rejecting his new kidney. Clayton, alongside his family, is fighting again for his life. 

My heart physically ached.

 

For the next three nights, I laid awake thinking about Clayton and how badly I wanted to help.

 

Often, I thought of his mom, her pain, her fear, and her strength.

 

I have always wanted to do something to honor Cale’s life. I could never find the right words, reason, or courage to try. I wanted a way to celebrate his short but impactful life. A way to remind people that he lived, that he was loved, and that he is not forgotten.

 

“Clayton, Cale, fighters, Clayton, Cale, fighters.” The mantra repeats inside my head as I lie awake.

 

I could feel God as he placed Clayton and his family in my heart and soul. It was as though God was permitting me to take a chance, be brave, honor Cale’s life, and get to action!

 

I put my big girl panties on, summoned the courage and got to work. Sharing my heart and honoring my son’s memory.

 

Cale would have been 16 this year on April 12th. In celebration of his birthday, I ask you to join me in the fight to help The Smith Family.

 

Clayton is extremely sick at this time. He is the 2nd child ever in the US to be diagnosed with an extremely rare infection, Encrusted Cystitis. The Doctors are in a race to find a treatment that will save his life and his kidney. At this time, there is no known treatment.

 

Please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers as he fights for his life.

 

Donations will be used for gas to commute between Tomahawk and Milwaukee, for food, housing and other travel expenses, to pay for their monthly house bills, help provide for their daughter Kali and accruing medical bills. Twenty-nine days today, Clayton has been in the ICU at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.

 

Thank you for reading, following, donating, and sharing your love and support!

 

Since creating this campaign, I feel closer to Cale than I have in years! A gift I could have only received through fighting for Clayton Smith in honor and memory of my beloved son, Cale Schade.

 

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another"

-Proverbs 27:17

To follow Clayton's Kidney Journey please click on the link https://www.facebook.com/groups/578733826414839 

To join us in our campaign for Clayton and in honoring Cale Schade please click the link https://www.facebook.com/Honorcalefightforclayton/?ref=pages_you_manage 
To watch a more detailed video into the lives of Clayton and Cale please click the link https://youtu.be/1R8vifGi2yk 

#honorcalefightclayton

#forcalefightclayton