Kosair Kid: Caden

At 18 months old, doctors diagnosed Caden with a rare, progressive disorder called spinocerebellar ataxia type 5. The condition affects his central nervous system and leads to incoordination of the hands, arms, and legs and impaired balance when walking. Due to his condition, Caden is unable to stand or walk independently. As the disorder progresses, it can also impact speech and fine motor skills, among other things. The rarity of the disease means Caden’s medical team is unsure what his future will look like.

“Caden's diagnosis put us in a very dark place. We felt alone, scared, and fearful,” said Matt, Caden’s dad. “But from start to finish, Kosair for Kids has been so kind and gracious to us.”

Navigating life with their child’s rare disorder has been challenging and costly. Medical bills to see specialists and obtain necessary equipment quickly add up, and working out the logistics of going places with Caden takes a lot of planning.

“The Kosair Kids Financial Assistance Program help is life-changing for us,” Matt said. “We hope your donors know that they have allowed us to focus our time and resources on Caden without the financial stress of trying to find ways to pay for his equipment.”

With your support, Kosair for Kids has provided Caden with accessibility equipment including a new ramp at their home and a van modification. The ramp and van modification led to something Caden’s parents could never have imagined.

“For the first time in his life, we saw our son get out of the car and walk into our house with his gait trainer by himself. It was such a precious moment that we will never forget,” his mom, Alex, shared.

At first glance, Kosair Kid Maison appears to be a typical, active 3^rd grader who enjoys playing with dinosaur toys, riding his bike, and playing tennis. You wouldn’t know it, but Maison faces a rare and invisible disease. Thanks to your generosity, he continues to get the help he needs, but doctors fear his journey may take another frightening turn.

Doctors diagnosed Maison with Severe Chronic Neutropenia, a rare blood disorder characterized by abnormally low levels of neutrophils. Here’s how Maison described it to us: “Do you know what a white blood cell is?” the boy asked. “I don’t have any. That means I can’t fight off infections.”

Any time Maison reaches a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher, his mom, Tracy, must rush him to the emergency room for medical protocols to ensure he does not have an infection that could kill him.

Thanks to kind-hearted donors like you, Kosair for Kids has relieved some of the burden on Maison’s family. The Kosair Kids Financial assistance program covered the cost of Maison’s critical medical care, something Tracy said lifted their family up when it felt like they had hit rock bottom.

“If it weren't for Kosair for Kids, our family would be submerged in medical debt. We wouldn’t have the hope to continue searching for answers. The financial assistance has helped us get back on our feet,” Tracy said.

Levi is a resilient little boy who enjoys strawberry and banana yogurt, Daniel Tiger, and being a big brother.

When Levi was diagnosed with leukemia at three years old, his parents, Ashley and Jon, felt lost and terrified. No one is prepared to learn their child has cancer. With Jon in dental school and Ashley working full time in addition to having a newborn at home, the thought of what was to come was overwhelming and scary.

“The fear of Levi’s future, the time that was needed for treatment, the unexpected financial stress was all too much for us to bear,” Ashley explained.

The Petries found relief when they learned about the Kosair Kids Financial Assistance Program. The help they received from your donations allowed them to focus on Levi’s care without financial worry. Your generosity also allowed them to tend to their newborn and keep Jon on track to graduate.

Like all parents, the Petries hope their son will live a long, healthy, and happy life. They’re inspired by Levi’s resilient spirit and grateful you have made this fight easier for them to endure. 

Ashley had this message for you, our wonderful donors: “We are so thankful for your kindness and generosity. We are beyond grateful for your help in such a stressful time of our lives.”

Luciana is an intelligent, creative, and funny little girl who loves Christmas stories, playing soccer, and telling jokes in Spanish. You’d never know it by her sweet smile, but Luciana has battled a life-altering disease.

What started with a fever culminated in a leukemia diagnosis at three years old. It came as a shock because Luciana was an otherwise healthy and energetic child. Her parents, Karla and Adan, suddenly feared they could lose their only child.

Through the Kosair Kids Financial Assistance Program, funded by your generosity, Luciana received the best urgent medical treatment possible without adding additional burdens on her family. It brought them peace and relief during an uncertain time.

“If it weren’t for Kosair for Kids, we would not have been able to cover the cost of Luciana’s treatment,” Adan explained.

Luciana wants to grow up to become a pediatric oncologist and help kids like her who are fighting cancer. Karla and Adan hope their self-determined princess grows into a healthy and compassionate adult who helps others the way strangers have helped them.

Karla wants you and others whose compassion allowed them to concentrate on what is most precious in their lives to know this, “I would like to thank them from the bottom of our hearts since we were able to focus more on the well-being of our daughter without thinking about the financial difficulties of her treatment. Thank you for being there for us!”