Our hero doesn’t have a cape or spider webbed hands. He can’t fly or leap tall buildings. What our 6-year-old Super Hero Aiden does have is a HUGE fighting spirit, amazing courage, and fearless determination. When Aiden was diagnosed with medulloblastoma on July 14, 2008, our lives would be forever changed. Aiden came face to face with a monster, a BIG monster with the power to shatter the hopes and dreams of your family, cripple your community and challenge your faith, every step of the way. After 522 days of treatment, including brain surgery, 6 weeks of radiation and 54 long weeks of chemotherapy treatments, Aiden’s super powers beat up the monster. On December 17, 2009, Aiden’s MRI was clear, there is no reoccurrence, and Aiden is No Evidence of Disease.
   
Aiden’s little life is nothing short of a miracle, he creates a rainbow for us everyday. There is a long road ahead for Aiden, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, much needed dental work and MRI’s every three months. He continues to amazes us with his will and determination to get back to being a ‘new normal’ little boy. He is so ready to have fun, lots of fun that he so richly deserves. Aiden goes to Kindergarten; he loves his classmates and his teacher, Miss Kulick. Aiden takes swim lessons at the YMCA, socializing and splashing around with all the kids, it’s so very magical. Traveling this journey with my beautiful grandson has been life changing, and trust me when I tell you cancer has the influence to devastate your life if you let it, but every one of these little ‘heroes’ of childhood cancer will empower your heart and soul to move mountains. That is exactly what we will do with the help of Alex’s Lemonade Stand; together we will continue our quest to find a cure for childhood cancer.
 
Written by Elaine Nichols, Aiden’s mom-mom
February 2010