Inspirational Stories
Aiden
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL)
I am writing to share about my son, Aiden, who is our real superhero and has superpowers that shine bright through his love of dance. From a very young age, we considered Aiden to be our gifted child. He has a free spirit and loves to connect with the world and others in it. His parents have taught him to "dream big" and "reach for the stars" and he can do whatever he puts his mind to.
In 2016, at the age of two years old, Aiden was diagnosed with leukemia and given three days to live. What the doctors didn't factor in is his resilience. His white blood cell count was over 750,000 when he was admitted. Immediately, the doctors had to start chemotherapy and dialysis (filtering out his white blood cells to normal levels) by passing clinical trials and stabilizing Aiden.
After a rough month into treatment, Aiden went from "three days to live" to the "miracle baby" on the third floor to the warrior, survivor, and now a community advocate. With every beat, Aiden was always on his feet dancing during and after treatment. Throughout his treatment, he continued to dance and strive in the performance arts.
Aiden is a social butterfly who loves to hang out with his friends and family and had gained 1000s who support him and the journey he has overcome. Aiden loves to stay active by celebrating life with his positive energy from karate, swimming, bike riding, singing, and dressing up like superheroes. He loves to travel and try new food, and he enjoys new experiences – attending concerts and theme parks is what makes him smile the most. Aiden is very talented it seems like he is good at everything he puts his heart into including sports, dancing, and public speaking.
Aiden was recently featured on a local news station news for fundraising for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) raising over $10,000 for research. His classmates were so impressed with him being on the news.
Aiden is now in the third grade and surrounded by a huge support system from his family, friends, teachers, doctors, and social workers who continue to work with him in providing preventive care in being proactive due to some of the side effects from treatment.
Aiden has raised over $16,000 through dance fundraisers and currently serves as an Honored Hero for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night and Visionary of the Year campaigns
Aiden would love the opportunity to touch someone or aid in saving lives by telling his story through dance about how he survived cancer.
With every eight counts, as he dances, Aiden will continue to spread his light to everyone around him.