Ayden’s Story

Ayden was born on April 8th, 2009, to young parents who were filled with excitement and joy at the prospect of meeting their precious little boy. From a young age, Ayden displayed remarkable curiosity, bravery, and an unwavering willingness to express his thoughts. He was exceptionally intelligent and wise beyond his years.

In 2016, just three days after his sixth birthday, Ayden’s health took a sudden turn for the worse. He was in excruciating pain and vomiting profusely. Concerned for his well-being, we rushed him to Sick Kids Hospital, where our world was shattered by the devastating news: “Ayden has a tumour the size of a golf ball; we need to perform surgery tomorrow morning.” Despite the overwhelming sense of devastation, we found solace in the knowledge that the surgery had been successful, and we had a glimmer of hope for a new normal. Ayden had been diagnosed with Medulloblastoma, an aggressive and rapidly growing tumour that primarily affects children.

Throughout every hospital visit and overnight stay, Ayden maintained an unwavering positive outlook on life, inspiring those around him with his remarkable strength. In 2017, we were overjoyed to announce that Ayden was cancer-free! To celebrate this incredible milestone, we embarked on a dream trip to Walt Disney World, where Ayden expressed his gratitude and happiness with unbridled joy. However, our happiness was short-lived as we received news that the cancer had returned.

In 2018, during recess at school, Ayden had a slip on the ice, and the pain returned with a vengeance. This was when things took a tragic turn. The seizures intensified, and Ayden became unresponsive. In January of 2018, we were informed that Ayden’s condition was critical, and we were advised to prepare to say our goodbyes. Despite the grim prognosis, our unwavering love and determination fueled our strength, and Ayden miraculously woke up.

During this challenging time, we were approached about staying at Emily’s House. We had never heard of such a place, but we decided to take a tour before making a decision. By February, we had settled into Emily’s House, which quickly became a second home. The welcoming atmosphere and the opportunity to connect with other families who had experienced similar struggles made a significant difference in our lives. It provided us with a sense of comfort and understanding, knowing that we were not alone in our journey.

We celebrated Ayden’s 9th and final birthday at Emily’s House. Camp Ooch, the raptors, and Emily’s House went all out to make it a memorable day for him. He kept thanking me repeatedly, expressing how special it was to him. I can never express my gratitude enough to Emily’s House for making that day so special.

Unfortunately, things started to decline in June 2018, and we had to rush back to Sick Kids Hospital. Ayden took his last breath in his mother’s arms on June 14th, 2018. Ayden was such a brilliant and beautiful soul. His radiant smile and compassionate nature lit up every room he entered. He was always ready to help those in need.

Since his passing almost 7 years ago, Ayden’s mother has organized toy drives every September in his honour to raise awareness about Childhood Cancer. His father wrote a children’s book titled “Saving Chocolate Mountain.” It was a book that Ayden and his father had created at Emily’s House, and his father had promised to publish it someday.

We know that Ayden is always with us, in spirit. His heart was so big that he gave us a surprise and blessed us with the arrival of his baby sister, Amora, in 2023.