A Community Comes Together for Aiden

Something pretty special is happening in my town these days. It starts with a no-so-great-reason. In January of this year, a second grader from Columbia, Missouri named Aiden, was diagnosed with a really crummy form of cancer. It’s called medulloblastoma. Surgeons were able to remove a tumor from his brain stem but they couldn’t get dense masses that wrap around his spinal cord. He’s getting amazing treatment at St. Judes in Memphis, TN with chemotherapy and intensive radiation to get rid of those tumors.

The reaction from his friends and family who know him through school and other activities has been tremendous. There’s a very active Facebook page that shares updates and fundraising efforts for Aiden. There’s also an ongoing website called, Aiden’s Avengers. There were bake sales and small fundraising events. A local pizza place offered one night where profits would go to Aiden’s fundraiser and they had to bring in more employees to help with the demand. But then there’s a fundraiser my friend, Monica, helped make happen. She and a group of women raised money for Aiden with the promise they would shave their head to look just like Aiden. He even had a chance to look in on the party through a web camera. Check this out:

This kind of effort is amazing. Also, I had no idea Monica was such a hot baldie. Seriously, every time I watch that video, it makes me tear up. What a sacrifice.

So get this. Monica and others aren’t stopping there. A fundraiser to help support Aiden’s family while they live in Memphis continues. They can’t work while they’re with their little fighter, so every dollar helps. And if they don’t use all of the donations, they plan to donate the rest to St. Judes. Monica and others are also planning to run in a St. Judes half marathon in Nashville. Local restaurants continue to hold fundraising days. It’s awesome. I’m honored to live in a community that will come together for a family in need like this. It’s touching and I just want to hug everyone.