Cayden Whalen, who turned 4 on Tuesday, Jan. 8, knows more than any child should know about chemotherapy.
On good days, the gregarious preschooler flexes his muscles and says, I have chemo power.
His battle with childhood leukemia began last fall when he began feeling ill. Doctors told his father, Shane, who he lives with, that it was Coxsackie virus.
Symptoms of leukemia in kids, such as fatigue, swollen glands and diminished appetite, can mimic simple infections, but Cayden didn’t bounce back the way doctors expected.
`When he didn’t get better over the course of several days, his doctor started doing blood tests, and things started showing up immediately,` said Cayden’s aunt, Kelley Aschmutat of Ballston Spa.
Kelley and her brother, Joe Whalen, who is highway superintendent for the town of Ballston, are organizing a fundraiser for Cayden and his family to take place this Saturday, Jan. 19, from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Ballston Spa Elks Club. The event will include a dinner buffet, live music and several raffles.
Cayden is now receiving chemotherapy treatments weekly at the Albany Medical Center child cancer center. On the days Cayden doesn’t receive chemo, Shane, who works for Shaker Lumber Trucking in Latham, drives him to Albany for weekly blood work.
`The gas alone to travel to Albany is a huge expense for my brother,` said Aschmutat.
Some rounds of chemo are given to Cayden through a port installed in his chest; others are injected directly into his spine. The child is on steroids to bulk up his small frame, but despite all the heavy medications, he remains chipper and outgoing.
`When I saw him last week, he asked me to chase him around,` said Aschmutat. `He wants to be a regular kid and play.`
Cayden’s prognosis is good; a full 80 percent of children receiving treatment go into remission, and after that, the odds are 85 percent he won’t experience a return of the illness in his lifetime. That’s the good news. The downside is that the child will undergo treatment for three years.
`We’re taking it week by week,` said Aschmutat.
Around the closely knit village of Ballston Spa, people are rallying to support the family.
Ralph Weaver, owner of the D-Line Pub in Ballston Spa, is putting up for raffle a signed football jersey by his son, NFL pro Anthony Weaver. Ron Manna, owner of Manna’s restaurant also in the village, is doing the catering.
The family is known around town as being good friends and neighbors.
`Shane worked for me at Monaco’s for years; he’s just an all-around good person,` said village mayor John Romano, who closed Monaco’s Tavern last year.
The Whalens gathered last week to celebrate Cayden’s fourth birthday with cake, ice cream and all the trimmings.
`We have no idea how much the benefit will raise, but my brother needs to know there’s support out there,` said Aschmutat. `That’s how this family will pull through.`
Tickets for the benefit buffet dinner are $12 for adults; $6 for kids and Seniors. Tickets can be purchased at the D-Line Pub, Manna’s restaurant or by calling Kelley at 882-1971.
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