Brayden the Brave

On June 14th, we welcomed my adorable nephew, Brayden Mechanic, into the world. A couple of hours after birth, Brayden experienced symptoms that led him to be transferred to Westchester Medical Center.

An emergency surgery revealed that Brayden was born with a mass that we quickly learned to be neuroblastoma, a rare cancer that develops in children, sometimes even before birth. Brayden spent 17 days in the NICU at Maria Fareri before starting his care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in New York City. In his first 4 months Brayden has shown incredible resilience and strength in his fight against neuroblastoma. Brayden has endured two rounds of chemotherapy, with the expectation of two more before the next critical step – surgery to remove the mass.

Through it all, Brayden's spirit remains unbroken, his infectious smile serving as a constant reminder of the power of positivity.

Melissa’s plans to resume teaching at Somers Intermediate School have been put on hold. The demands of Brayden's ongoing treatments and his weakened immune system make it impossible for her to return to work right now. The daily commute from their home to MSK Kids for Brayden's treatments is also taking a toll. While they have been courageous and strong throughout the process, and almost always refuse help, we can’t help but try to offer a little. We are launching this GoFundMe campaign to provide financial relief for their family during this trying time. Your contributions will directly impact their lives, easing the financial stress that accompanies this difficult situation and the ongoing expenses associated with Brayden's treatment.

We invite you to join us in supporting this remarkable family as they face the unimaginable with strength, resilience, and love. Together, we can make a difference in Brayden's life and help The Mechanic Family focus on what truly matters – the health and happiness of Brayden.

On behalf of Melissa, Dylan, Brayden, and the entire family, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness, love, and support.

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