Team Kaiden Central

On May 18, 2009, Kaiden fell off a bench at pre-school. At home she complained that her abdomen hurt and later vomited. Her father took her to the shower to clean her up and noticed a large mass on her side. Her parents rushed her to the hospital, where doctors discovered that the fall had caused a muscle to give way revealing a 4.3 inch tumor growing between her kidney and liver.

Doctors at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles diagnosed Kaiden with Stage 4 High-Risk Neuroblastoma two days later. At the time it was detected, the cancer had already spread throughout her body, including her bones, skull and soft tissues.

Kaiden underwent intensive surgery in July 2009 to remove the primary tumor that had invaded her kidney, adrenal gland, liver and diaphragm. During the surgery, the doctors discovered that the tumor was 11-12 inches (>30cm) in diameter and weighed approximately 4 pounds.

Kaiden has completed seven rounds of chemotherapy; high-dose MIBG radiation therapy and stem cell transplantation. Recent MIBG scan showed that the cancerous spots in Kaiden’s ribs, back bones, feet and skull have greatly improved. She still has cancer in her left lower leg, upper right leg, pelvis, right upper arm. She is now undergoing intense radiation of those targeted areas followed by antibody therapy to try to eliminate the stubborn spots of cancer.