Kayden Continues to Fight Against Cancer Round #2

I am Kayden's maternal grandmother aka "Mo"

Kayden was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhabdomyosarcoma) (RMS) in September of 2020. RMS is a rare type of cancer that forms in soft tissue. RMS can occur at any age, but it most often affects children. It is a large mass found on the left side of his interior skull putting pressure on his eye and ear.

Kayden is under the amazing care of Dr. Zhihong Wang at Childrens' Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University.

The original test results in 2020 were promising. There appeared to be no damage to the optic nerve although the pressure of the tumor caused his eye to remain closed. To protect the eye from further damage it was decided to suture the eyelid closed.

Kayden entered into a clinical study and receive aggressive radiation and chemotherapy. In November of 2021 after a year of chemo and radiation the tumor was significantly reduced in size and what remained in the scans was thought to be scar tissue. Cured! Remission! His port was removed and we walked away from the Children's Hospital at VCU feeling ever so grateful and blessed. We were one of the lucky ones.

Until we weren't. Regular follow-up scans revealed heightened activity in the same area. A biopsy in January of 2023 confirmed our greatest fear...the cancer had returned. Cancer cells if not killed come back with a vengeance. And so our journey begins... again.

Kayden's team of doctors has outlined the following treatment plan. Aggressive chemo, followed by specialized proton radiation and then surgery.

Megan is a single mother who is raising Kayden (8) and Abel (7) in Stafford, Virginia on a single and very limited income. Fortunately, the children are on Medicaid so most of Kayden's medical bills are covered. However, the expenses are quickly mounting as she has been staying by his bedside during these past two hospital stays and has not been able to work.

Money raised will be used for gas, meals, hotel stays and primarily the upcoming

7-week stay in Washington DC where Kayden will be receiving Johns Hopkins Proton Radiation Therapy. We were hoping to secure an Air BnB for Megan and the boys to stay in during Kayden's treatment.