Join Cayden's Fight Against Cancer

My name is Amelia Anderson and I have started this GoFundMe for one of the sweetest gingers I know, Cayden Lee Baelz. Cayden is 12 years old and just finished up his 6th grade year at Corydon Intermediate. He is a sports lover, plays football, basketball and baseball. He spends most of his summers on the Ohio River, tubing, skiing and fishing. His parents are Chris and Adrienne Baelz, and he has an older sister, Avery.

At the end of February Cayden started complaining of some leg pain, which was thought to be a pulled muscle in his thigh area. On Tuesday, May 14th he had a MRI done, which came back abnormal. His orthopedic doctor admitted him to Norton Children’s Hospital to have a bone biopsy of his hip on Friday, May 17th. Results came back inconclusive and unfortunately Cayden had to undergo another biopsy on Monday, May 20th. Thursday, May 23rd Chris and Adrienne were given the news that no parent should ever have to hear. Cayden was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a cancer that most often occurs in and around the bones. I can not imagine the heartbreak each of them were feeling in that room that day.

Cayden’s world is about to change, drastically. His port has been placed and he will be doing 12 weeks of chemo. Once those 12 weeks are up, he will be jumping right into radiation, and then another round of chemo for 22 weeks. Just typing that is overwhelming. A 12 year old boy trying to navigate all of this when really he just wants to be able to enjoy being out of school and living on the river for the summer.

Chris and Adrienne are very selfless people, whether it be Chris coaching youth sports for years, or Adrienne being a nurse and taking care of others, especially children. Their hearts are huge and they really need our help. When I spoke with Adrienne earlier, she made mention that they don’t like asking for help. It’s not something that they want to do, but know they are going to need a village to fight this. While Cayden is receiving treatments he will be admitted in the hospital. Chris and Adrienne will be missing a lot of work, trying to juggle being there for Cayden, and taking care of Avery. The medical bills have already started piling up and they need our help. Please help me take some of those burdens off of them.

If you can donate, please do so, there is no amount too small! Let’s rally behind Cayden and let him feel the love that our community has for him!

#CaydensCrew