Name: #CailenStrong Fundraiser
Start: 2025-04-25T16:30:00-04:00
End: 2025-04-25T18:30:00-04:00
Location: Connection Point Church

After a Thanksgiving morning ER visit for what his parents thought was an ear infection, now 6 year old Cailen was diagnosed in January 2023 with a rare and aggressive form of cancer called Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma. This cancer is rare to start with, even rarer to have a recurrence. In Spring of 2024, we were told that Cailen was cancer-free. Unfortunately, we found out late summer of that same year that his cancer had returned. He underwent an 11-hour surgery in October 2024 to remove the tumor that was in his ear. This also resulted in removal of his left ear canal, ear drum, and middle ear leaving him completely deaf in his left ear. He is now going through chemo to target anything remaining of the tumor. This is causing his counts to be low a lot more often and as a result, Cailen needs to have more frequent blood transfusions and is now struggling with significant neuropathy in his legs.

Cailen and his parents have been working with Mott's Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor, MI to coordinate his treatment plan. They have been traveling across the state from Muskegon to Ann Arbor and staying in countless hotel rooms so that Cailen can receive treatments. This is followed by an injection that costs over a thousand dollars each time. They have also had to do all of this travel while being apart from Cailen's little sister, Alyssa, who was born in the midst of his first round of treatments and stays behind with grandparents while the rest of the family is on the other side of the state. Cailen has also had to miss out on school, family gatherings, friends, and other normal and notable events in a child's life.

In addition to being a draining season for this family, this is quickly becoming a very expensive time in their lives between gas, hotel rooms, paying for what insurance doesn't cover, the list goes on. If we can help alleviate some of the financial burden, they can focus on getting Cailen feeling better physically, mentally, and emotionally. Please join me in giving what you are able to give. Every donation is greatly appreciated.