Aidan’s Story
“Don’t ever give up, cause that’s when you lose the battle.”
Aidan’s words on his first day of radiation and chemo
Aidan’s Cancer Journey
Our nonprofit organization is Team Aidan 4 Ever. Our mission is to promote pediatric cancer awareness and raise funds for pediatric cancer treatment. Team Aidan 4 Ever is dedicated to the memory of our son, Aidan Long, who passed away just a few months shy of his 14th birthday. Aidan was intelligent, passionate, caring, outgoing, funny, and happy-go-lucky. He was loyal, determined, competitive, inspirational, remarkable, brave, strong, positive, and a die-hard Golden State Warriors basketball fan. Even during one of their worst seasons a couple of years ago, he confidently said, “Don’t worry, they will win a championship again.” He was right; they won the championship it after he passed away during the 2021-2022 season.
Aidan was diagnosed with a type of brain cancer called high-grade glioma. He had a seizure on November 3, 2019, and until that moment, he was a happy and healthy kid. After a CT scan and an MRI, doctors discovered a tumor pressing against his brain tissue, causing increased pressure in his brain. They performed emergency surgery to relieve that pressure and, a couple of weeks later, removed most of the mass. Since they couldn’t remove it all, Aidan underwent radiation and chemotherapy to kill the remaining cancer cells.
During his treatment, Aidan was determined to participate in an obstacle course and attend his 7th-grade retreat. This obstacle course involved climbing a rope net while harnessed 20 feet in the air and jumping between wooden planks. He believed this challenge would define him as a 7th grader and help him conquer his fear of heights. Everyone—including his teachers—was hesitant about him doing this, as he seemed the least likely candidate. However, Aidan persisted and eventually received approval from his oncologist, Dr. Hutchins.
Aidan’s cancer jouney continued…..
We made a plan: Aidan would attend radiation in the morning and spend the rest of the day at Camp Erdman with his classmates. On the first day of the retreat, he climbed the rope net but, standing 20 feet in the air, he chickened out and climbed back down. He was deeply disappointed and cried, but I reassured him that he had tried his best. To Aidan, that wasn’t enough. The next day, he used his cancer diagnosis to appeal to his teachers for a second chance, with his dad cheering him on every step of the way. This time, he didn’t disappoint. It was a defining moment for Aidan; he decided he wouldn’t let fear overcome him, even the fear of heights. He was immensely proud of himself, especially since other kids hadn’t completed the obstacle course.
After a few months of treatment, Aidan faced a setback; he began losing weight and growing weaker. We learned he had radiation necrosis and needed steroids to help him. While on steroids, he gained weight and regained some strength back.
Unfortunately, Aidan had another setback and began to weaken again, and we discovered his brain cancer had returned, this time more aggressively. The plan was to undergo more radiation and surgery, but in February, he developed a cough and lung infection that he ultimately couldn’t recover from. He was hospitalized during the Super Bowl. Even when he was exhausted from struggling to breathe, he found the energy to cheer for his favorite team, the Kansas City Chiefs. Sadly, they lost. Aidan was placed on life support, and a couple of weeks later, he passed away on February 21, 2021. His fragile body had fought valiantly but was too damaged by the treatments. There was nothing more that medicine or machines could do.
When we think about Aidan, we remember how he made the most of every day, ensuring we did something special—whether it was riding a motorbike on a day when his platelets were over 100, watching a Warriors game, or having a game night playing dominoes. He was remarkable in how he didn’t let cancer hold him back from pursuing what he wanted to do.
Even while Aidan was sick, he focused on the future. He wanted to be a mentor to other children with cancer, encouraging them not to give up. He had dreamed of becoming an engineer, but his experience with cancer led him to consider nursing as another option. He planned to tell patients that if he could persevere, so could they, and that he would never give up on them. Aidan was a remarkable kid with a vision to change the world.
To honor Aidan, we believe there is no better way than to raise awareness for pediatric cancer and hold a basketball tournament to fund cancer research. For Aidan and those suffering from brain cancer, there is still a lack of effective treatment options. If we can help even one child live another day or celebrate another birthday, it would be worth it.
Join us and help us keep Aidan’s fighting spirit alive as we raise awareness and funds for pediatric cancer.
