CAYDEN'S ITP JOURNEY

Cayden is an active 8 year old boy who loves football and wrestling. He also loves the great outdoors. He loves to play football and wrestle with his brother Cody.

Cayden’s ITP journey started back in April of 2016. His dad and I were noticing a lot of bruising all over him. We became concerned after a couple of weeks. We decided to contact his pediatrician. We took Cayden to see him right away. He ran blood tests and his platelet count came back at 7,000. A normal platelet count is 150,000-400,000.

He was sent right away to a pediatric hematologist. This is when he was diagnosed with ITP. Cayden has been through 12 rounds of prednisone and 16 IVIG infusions. He has been diagnosed with CHRONIC ITP. Cayden has been through numerous blood draws and IV starts. He never even flinches during these pokes. He just sits there and watches them do it. Everyone is always so impressed by how well a 8 year old takes it.

Cayden is very limited on what he can and cannot do at school and at home as far as activities. It always depends on his platelet counts as to how much he can do. He loves it when he is able to play football and wrestle. Cayden was able to participate in wrestling season this year. Most of the time he was only able to do the warm ups and learn the moves. He was never able to live wrestle. At the end of the season, there is always a HUGE wrestling tournament. Cayden noticed quite a bit of bruising on his body. I gave him a boost of prednisone and he was ready for the tournament. Cayden took FIRST place in his weight class. We were so proud of him!

Cayden has become the adopt a patient for the CSL Plasma center of Beloit. He loves to go in for visits. He loves seeing all the donors there. He understands that it is because of all the donors that his life is being saved. It takes about 20,000 donors for one infusion treatment. Cayden was able to walk in the Christmas parade with the Plasma center for the 2nd year in a row and hand out goodies. He was excited to take his dog Feather with him. We had Feather all dressed up.

Cayden was granted a wish from the Kids Wish Network. We will be flying to Florida to visit Disney World, Animal Kingdom, and Universal Studios in March of 2019. We are so thrilled. Cayden was so surprised. He is used to paying it forward, not receiving gifts like this. In addition to the trip to Florida, Cayden received merchandise and autographed memorabilia from Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, who learned of his story through the Kids Wish Network.

Cayden raised over $10,000 for his first 5K walk that he planned for the PDSA and over $11,000 for his second 5K walk. He is fighting for a cure. He would love to raise over $15,000 this year. I know he can do it!

To this date, Cayden has had over 135 blood draws / IV’s pokes and has never once complained. He just does what needs to be done and he does it with a smile on his face. He has made a choice to help others with ITP by praying for them and sending them letters. We as a family do not accept the words “Chronic ITP “ only because we believe in miracles. Please join us in the fight against ITP on September 7, 2019.  We will all be dressed in PURPLE!!

Please join us in the fight against ITP on September 7, 2019. We will all be dressed in PURPLE!!

 

 

 

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