Meet Kayden the 2026 CHEO Champion
Watching Kayden dance his heart out is exhilarating. His vitality lifts everyone’s spirits, proving that the most difficult days—even many spent as a cancer patient at CHEO — can be made better when you give yourself over to the music!
At age eight, Kayden began experiencing unexplained, painful headaches. Initial tests were inconclusive; but a persistent resident at CHEO noticed abnormalities on Kayden’s left side. An MRI revealed a germ cell tumour in his brain. Though the family hoped it was benign, a biopsy on August 31, 2021, confirmed it was cancerous.
The diagnosis was staggering, but as Kayden’s mom, Kelly, recalls, “a whole team surrounded us.” They mapped out a treatment plan and helped the family navigate their hardest conversation. Fearing that Kayden would equate “cancer” with the death of his great-grandfather, his parents didn’t know how to tell him. CHEO doctors stepped in, explaining what he could expect and answering his questions with compassion.
Kayden’s brave spirit defined his time on 4 North, CHEO’s oncology ward. On the days he began chemo cycles, he would dance for – and often with – the staff. While “chemo funks” eventually left him exhausted in his hospital bed, his dancing on the good days kept his family going.
The path was full of unexpected turns. Treatment shrunk the tumour significantly, deeming it operable. Kayden was off to SickKids in Toronto for a nine-hour surgery. Later, he traveled to Boston for specialized proton radiation therapy. The travel was isolating and costly, separating Kayden and his parents from his siblings and support network.
One year after his diagnosis, an MRI at CHEO confirmed he was cancer-free!
Now 13, Kayden remains dedicated to his “second family” at CHEO. He’s a passionate ambassador, raising funds for oncology care and research. He even uses an online persona to educate other children about cancer.
But these days, Kayden’s advocacy has taken a new direction: mental health. He speaks candidly about the anxiety and dark thoughts that lingered far beyond his cancer treatment. With the help of a donor-funded oncology psychologist at CHEO, Kayden learned to manage his debilitating fears about his family’s safety.
Today, Kayden is thriving as a youth mental health advocate. He continues to teach us that when you face a challenge, you should talk it out—and then dance it out.
