Mbrace Orthodontics

Just days after his 8^th birthday, Aiden’s mother, Michelle noticed that his fingernail beds had turned blue. After visiting their local doctor’s office for bloodwork, Michelle received a call around 7:45pm that night and was told to take Aiden to The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital (BBCH) immediately after hearing the words that no parent wants to hear: “He may have cancer.”

After arriving at BBCH, their worst nightmares were confirmed as Aiden received his diagnosis: leukemia. Michelle recalls the emotions of that day, and the early weeks of Aiden’s treatment: “It was a blur of driving, people in scrubs, and tears. My husband and I stayed with Aiden for two weeks in the hospital. After six transfusions, spinal taps, multiple surgeries and chemotherapy, Aiden was discharged. Two weeks later, he was taken by helicopter to Portland with infections in his heart and lungs. He lost the ability to walk, and was hospitalized for four more weeks.”

Aiden was eventually discharged with a walker and wheelchair, but unfortunately, the obstacles did not stop there; he’s undergone additional rounds of chemotherapy, surgeries, and hospital stays since his diagnosis last year. Despite the hardships that he has faced, Aiden remains resilient and determined to beat his cancer. According to Michelle, his name, meaning “little fire,” perfectly suits his fighting spirit—and he’s even asked her to share his story with others because, in his words, “This isn’t easy, and we need to make sure this doesn’t happen to other kids.”