Aiden’s Army

03/18/2025

Nothing to really update. There isn’t any clear sign as to why this is all happening to Aiden. They sent us home yesterday. Thursday he will follow up with bone marrow team and hopefully after more tests we will figure it out.
Today he is in school for his ACTs so we’re just praying that goes well even while he isn’t feeling well. This kid is a trooper for sure!!
’sArmy

03/17/2025

I realize that it has been quite awhile since we have given an update on Aiden so while I have a minute I thought I would do one.

Since our last update a lot has and hasn’t changed. Let me first start by saying that Aiden is still cancer free and line free. 🙌
April 1st will be his transplant bonus birthday. 2 years!!
The transplant has been a blessing but it hasn’t been without many ups and downs.

In November Aiden’s transplant team was able to transfer him back to his leukemia team and in December Aiden moved on to survivorship as well. Over the past few months he has stayed sick off and on. Last month he had tubes because he had so many ear infections that it was causing hearing loss. He’s been battling a chronic cough for a year now. Constant sinus infections and picks up any little virus. Strep, Covid…anything. All of this while he never leaves the house and noone else at home is sick. (He is still virtual school)

In January I took him to his primary care dr for a routine physical. I asked them to do a chest CT to check his lungs just to be safe. He had several chest x-rays done by his oncology team that were all normal but I just needed peace of mind. The CT showed some pneumonia. Around 2 weeks later he started vomiting and dropping weight so his leukemia team decided to do a scope. The biopsy showed viral reactivation of HHV6 in his gut.
That diagnosis led Aiden right back to his transplant team. They started him on medication for this virus and the vomiting stopped and his weight has come back up. Labs showed that Aiden’s B cells still haven’t recovered from his transplant. Meaning there isn’t much there to protect him from infection which explained the chronic infections.

The transplant team got infectious disease involved and the plan is to start giving Aiden IVIG infusions to help him fight infections until his B cells recover on their own. This is all depending on if insurance will cooperate.
Today we are back at the ER for fluids, labs etc. because Aiden has started vomiting again and just over all not feeling well. I will update when we know more but you all have been on this journey with us and I wanted to make sure (especially for those I don’t know personally) that I kept you all informed. Thanks for taking this ride with us and keeping my boy in your prayers.
’sArmy

09/02/2024

The sad reality is, these numbers continue to rise, and more children and families are affected by Childhood Cancer daily. Our mission at Cool Kids is devoted to improving the quality of life for pediatric oncology patients, survivors, and their families by focusing on the Academic, Social, and Emotional needs brought on by a cancer diagnosis. We do this through completely free services which include tutoring, family programs, care packages, hospital decor bags, vacation condos, support groups, smile celebrations, and much more.

Stay tuned all month long to learn more about the effects of Childhood Cancer, and what we provide at Cool Kids to help the Coolest Kids fighting cancer.

Learn more or donate to Cool Kids Clubhouse today: https://coolkidscampaign.org/donate-to-north-carolina-clubhouse/

09/02/2024

It’s officially Childhood cancer awareness month and we want to post a foundation daily. If you are looking for a foundation to support these are all incredible and would love your support.
Check back tomorrow for another.

07/18/2024

Newest Aiden update…this one likes to keep us on our toes.

We are here at the hospital this morning having a picc line placed. Aiden had his central line removed from his chest in June. Such a blessing. This is a HUGE step and his first time line free in 2 years!!!! 🙌
The transplant team was talking about sending him back to the Leukemia team. Although sad to leave our care team for over a year but also another HUGE step!!

So he got the line out, we went to the beach where he got to enjoy the water. (With the line he wouldn’t have been able to swim)
We came back and in for his weekly appointment, did blood work and his BCR ABL came back abnormal. This is the chronic part of the CML. A total bummer but you never know what the next blood work could show. So the next one was also abnormal. They decided to watch it before treating it and with lots of prayer his body did what it was supposed to do post transplant and his latest blood work showed undetected!! 🙌😍❤️

However in all of this Aiden has viral reaction which is common post transplant. Normally they wouldn’t even treat it but his numbers are continuing to climb. He is starting a 4 week infusion to treat EBV. Downside…he doesn’t have a line anymore so picc it is. Silver lining…he will stay with the transplant team while he is being treated for this. He LOVES his team!!
10 steps forward, 3 back but so thankful for the 7 steps and BCR ABL negative!!!


Enjoy some pics!

06/11/2024

Hello Aiden’s Army!!! I know I’ve been promising an update for a long time. Honestly life has just been super busy for us but I figured while we are sitting here in infusion, this would be a great time.

1st of all Aiden has been doing AMAZING!! Life after transplant has been strange. A lot of people think once the transplant was complete and Aiden is home that it’s all over. That is VERY wrong!! Life has looked a lot different for him. He has days where he is worn out from the smallest activities. These days are thankfully becoming less and less. He works hard to excerise and keep his strength. He has still been immunized suppressed/compromised so going out and about has been rare. He is still doing school virtually. Prayerfully his immune system is finally starting to recover and he is able to go out a bit with precautions. Most of our days have still been spent at the DR. Thankfully we LOVED our team.

After transplant he developed GVHD of his skin, some GI, and mildly his lungs. He still has a double lumen catheter in his chest so in November his doctors decided to try him on ECP. (As pictured) This has made a world of difference and Aiden has done AMAZING!!!

Saturday we celebrated his 16th birthday and 1 year since he left the hospital!!🙌
Good is good!!
Today is his last day of ECP therapy and first thing tomorrow morning he will have his line removed. Thank you all for continued prayers and checking on Aiden. This has been quite the journey and it’s not over yet but we are so thankful to be where we are!!

06/03/2024

We would love to ask Aiden’s army to please share and participate if you can.

Join Atrium Health Foundation and the Carolina Panthers for the 14th Annual Keep Pounding 5K on Saturday, June 22, 2024, as we Pound Out Cancer and raise vital funds for cancer research and treatment advancements at Atrium Health! Register at KeepPounding5K.org!

04/04/2024

Screaming, shouting and jumping for JOY!! God is so good!!!
Today marks one year since Aiden’s second transplant. Happy 1st ReBirthday to my first love. This is a HUGE deal and I am so thankful.
I am wayyyyy over due to give an update on his progress and all that has gone on with him. I promise I will do that soon but today we are celebrating. 🥳
Look how far he has come!! 😍😍

11/14/2023

Please take a second to go vote. It’s much appreciated!!

ATTENTION FOLLOWERS - WE NEED YOUR HELP!
We are so excited that R.E. Garrison is in the running for the CCJ's Five Flashiest Fleets for 2023! This year we submitted our newest wrapped trucks, the Childhood Cancer Awareness trucks, for voting. In 2022, we held the title as one of CCJ's Top Five Flashiest Fleets and we need your help to do it again!
Please use the link below or in our LinkTree, scroll until you find our beautiful trucks, click the R.E. Garrison box, and then scroll all the way down to submit your vote!

CCJ's Five Flashiest Fleet Voting
https://www.ccjdigital.com/page/5ffreaderschoice2023?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=AD2023+CCJ+Five-Flashiest-Fleets_Voting_NL_Unengaged&utm_term=CE311OCDC&ust_id=5023F1616790A4Y&utm_content=11-10-2023&oly_enc_id=5023F1616790A4Y

11/08/2023

Serving pediatric oncology patients and their families in NC and SC

11/06/2023

This guy just can’t get enough of this place. 🤦‍♀️
Aiden is back in the hospital. He started getting sick a little over a week ago. He’s had a terrible cough that just keeps getting worse. Light headed, can’t eat or keep anything down and is having a GVHD flare up across his face and body. This kids definitely like to keep everyone on their toes. We covet your prays. Aiden is tough but I know this has to be draining on him. It is on all of us. It’s been wild in the Love house lately…

Keep little brother in your prayers as well please. (Cooper)He had a seizure at school Thursday. This is his first one in over a year and it seems to take a while for him to bounce back to normal.

Thank you all for being a part of Aiden’s army!!