Help Support Kainan Smith and His Family...

I’m creating this GoFundMe on behalf of the Smith family to help support sweet Kainan Smith, a brave 9-year-old boy who has already overcome more than most of us can imagine, and the family who loves him so deeply. If you know Kainan, you know his smile, his strength, and the joy he brings to everyone around him. What many don’t see is the incredibly difficult journey he and his family are walking right now. Kainan was recently diagnosed with Guillain Barré Syndrome (GBS), a rare neurological disorder that attacks the body’s nerves and can cause sudden weakness, paralysis, and an intense, life-altering road to recovery. What started as something frightening and unexpected quickly turned into a medical emergency that changed this family’s life overnight.

Before Guillain Barré Syndrome, Kainan was an extremely active, high-energy, sports-loving boy. He wasn’t just “on a team,” he was a key player everywhere he went.

With his travel baseball team, the Marion Redbirds 9U, he played shortstop, second baseman, and pitcher. He was known as the fastest kid on the team; quick on his feet and always hustling.

For football with the Spartans, he played wide receiver, using that same speed and determination to make big plays.

Most recently, his basketball season with the Grizzles was cut short. He carried the point guard position, leading the court with confidence and heart.

Kainan went from running bases, catching passes, and pushing the ball down the court… to fighting to regain strength most of us take for granted. The contrast is heartbreaking, but his fighting spirit remains the same.

Recently, Kainan has required extended hospital stays, ongoing treatments, and specialized care. In the coming days, he will be moving out of state to an inpatient facility in Atlanta for continued treatment and intensive rehabilitation. This next step is necessary and hopeful, but it brings an entirely new set of challenges for the family. His mom will have to remain at home to continue working and help support the family financially. His dad will be staying by Kainan’s side throughout this journey. Thankfully, he has a remote position and will be working from the facility where Kainan is receiving treatment, allowing him to be present for every therapy session, every milestone, and every hard day.

This means the family will be living apart for an extended period of time, navigating work, travel, hospital life, and everyday responsibilities from two different states. No parent should have to split their family apart just to ensure both financial stability and medical care but that is the reality they are facing right now. Along with the emotional toll, the financial strain can become overwhelming. Medical bills, travel expenses, food, transportation, inpatient facility costs, and the everyday expenses back home add up quickly. Life doesn’t pause during a crisis. Bills still need to be paid. Responsibilities don’t stop.

This GoFundMe has been created to help lift some of that burden. Donations will go directly toward:

The Smith family would never ask for help unless it was truly needed. Any donation (big or small) makes a difference. If you are unable to give financially, sharing this fundraiser, sending prayers, or offering words of encouragement means more than you know.

Kainan is a fighter. He has already shown resilience beyond his years. He went from being one of the fastest kids on the field to fighting the battle of his life with the same determination he carried in every sport he played. His journey is far from over, but neither is his strength.

Thank you for standing with Kainan and his family. Thank you for reminding them they are not walking this road alone.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

Any remaining funds after Kainan’s medical and family expenses are covered will be donated to the GBS Foundation in honor of Kainan and his courageous journey.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to Taylor Perez via Facebook (Taylor Linsky-Perez), or Phone 8 7 0 7 3 9 0 6 3 7 and she will answer what she can. If she does not have the information you need, she will connect you directly with Raven or Kelan Smith.