Hello, friends and family! Thank you so much for taking the time to read, share, donate, and celebrate Kaden’s 22nd birthday and journey into the Oak Hill Fire Academy, allowing him to follow his dream of becoming a firefighter. We need your help with raising funds to pay for Kaden’s fees and expenses for his 37-week program. As many of you know, I had a severe tonic-clonic seizure (caused by a brain tumor) while laying in bed with my kids in July of 2019. My seizure lasted well past the “normal” two-minute mark and well into four. I was unconscious, unresponsive, unable to get oxygen, and both my pupils were blown until EMS arrived. Obviously, this was a painfully traumatic experience for my kids and my husband, Frank but it especially hit Kaden hard. Kaden watched as EMS did what they could to bring life back into my eyes, and from that moment he knew he wanted to help others the way these heroes helped me. This was the tipping point into Kaden’s journey, inspiring Kaden to apply to programs to become an EMT and firefighter. Since my seizure, we have been living on and off of one income for over a year due to my brain tumor, surgery, recovery, and then the pandemic. Like many of you, Frank and I are struggling to make ends meet through this pandemic. I return to teaching (in-person) after thanksgiving which should help improve our financial situation. We still have five out of the six children living with us, it’s been a very loud, busy, and sometimes a cramped space over the past several months but we are very fortunate to be able to have one another through such uncertain times. As we celebrate Kaden’s birthday today, November 22nd and holiday season, please consider donating to Kaden’s fire academy fund, we greatly appreciate each and every one of you through this journey, we would not have been able to be here without you. We are forever grateful. I have included some more detailed information about Kaden and his journey below… As many of you know, it has not been an easy road for Kaden. Kaden had to grow up fast, having to be the man of the house, a role model for his siblings, and take on many responsibilities at a young age. No matter the obstacles, Kaden perseveres, continuing to be an honor roll student, he graduated high school early, continues motivating his five siblings, working hard with over 48 hour work weeks, and continuing his education. Kaden has been actively involved in public service since he was 13 years old, including organizations like United Way, Central Texas Food Bank, Boy Scouts of America, Texas Search and Rescue, and campaigned for many local, state and federal candidates in 2016, 2018 and the 2020 elections, just to name a few. January of 2020, Kaden started his Emergency Medical Technician training that was scheduled to conclude May 5th, 2020. All was going well, Kaden was doing night classes and studying hard to obtain his National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians and Department of State Health Services Certifications. After about 3 months of working hard, late nights, and early mornings, a worldwide pandemic suspended all students from learning in the classroom. Quickly, the world's education community attempted to adapt by creating online classrooms. When learning lifesaving skills, it is best to learn those skills with a hands-on approach, in person, and in a training environment. After many more months of learning online, passing all classroom tests, students were being prevented from participating in clinical learning on an ambulance and in a hospital due to a worldwide PPE shortage, the state finally allowed waivers to let students take their national registry test with the substitution of real clinicals for simulated ones. Many more months passed, with Kaden being able to sit for his National Registry test in November of 2020 -- 11 months after his class start date and 6 months after his projected graduation date. With all those obstacles behind him, Kaden sat for the test 11/7/2020 and got his results back 11/9/2020. The results granted him the honor of being an Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician. 1 of 286,251 in the US. After gaining his certification, Kaden is now pursuing a career in public service to help his community being a Firefighter. To do this, he needs to pay out of pocket for the Fire Academy he was accepted into. This fire academy is 37 weeks long, occurs on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 5:30pm to 10:00pm, Saturdays from 8:00am to 5:30pm, and some Sundays with the same hours as Saturdays. This will be taking place while Kaden is working at his Full-Time job. The Academy with allow him to obtain his Texas Commission on Fire Protection Basic Structural Firefighter Certification (FF1, FF2, Hazmat Awareness, and Hazmat Operations), Courage to be Safe program, S130/190, L180, Swift Water Rescue, Traffic Highway Safety Course, and IS-100, 200, 700, and 800 courses.