Caiden, “Squish”

On April 8th, 2019, Caiden, aka “Squish,” became one of 47 kids diagnosed with cancer that day. Squish was diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma which consisted of a large tumor wrapping around his bladder, prostate, and bowels when he was only 2 years old. This is a diagnosis that only about 250 children a year receive in the United States. During the initial fight against cancer, Squish endured 48 rounds of chemotherapy with 6 weeks of daily radiation. Upon finishing his treatment, we learned that Squish’s cancer had not been cured, but rather it had spread into his lungs.

In March 2020, Squish was granted a wish of a lifetime through the Make A Wish foundation where we were treated to an epic adventure filled with magic at Give Kids The World, Disney World, and dinosaurs.

Squish battled this terrible disease for an additional 7 months with two more metastases and never fully received the remission we all hoped for. In October, just days before his 4th birthday, Squish’s cancer had “exploded” and we were life-flighted back to Denver where he later played one last time with his brothers before passing away that same day on October 20th, 2020.

Despite the challenges that Squish faced during this long ferocious battle, Squish was a happy boy who brought so much joy into our lives. He loved to live life to the fullest with his silly knock-knock jokes, playing with his boys, dance parties, and his sassy personality. Squish is identified as a rainbow-loving, purple T-Rex that fought ferociously, never losing his light.