Chemo, Prayers Help Bulletproof Cancer Boy’s Fight
Ayden Jolicoeur puts in his personal order with Santa
By Art Harris, The Bald Truth, www.artharris.com, all rights reserved
A grateful father, Jason Jolicoeur, a lead FDLE investigator in the Haleigh Cummings case, and his wife, Shauna, say they want to thank Bald Truth readers — and Nancy Grace and all her viewers— for all the prayers sent out for their 4 year old son, Ayden, who has been fighting inoperable cancer like a champ. In May, a portion of a tumor was removed, but the rest remains.
“Ayden is all the proof we need to know that this is the season of miracles,” says Shauna, speaking by cell phone from the Nemours Children’s clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., where Ayden was receiving chemotherapy Wednesday, a routine that has kept a large spinal tumor in check.
“MRIs show it hasn’t grown, so please let everyone know we thank them–and Ayden thanks them — from the bottom of our hearts. We know prayers work, so please keep ’em coming.”
Ayden gives a thumbs up
His mother says he’s excited about Santa, and has asked for a few Leggo toys, “along with the last thing he saw on some TV commercial.”
For his parents, Ayden is the biggest gift they can imagine.
“Just having him with us, to spend another Christmas, and watching his condition stabilize, it’s amazing,” says Shauna, whose son beat the odds just getting to the starting line. Shauna was only given a 4 per cent chance of conceiving, and learned she was pregnant a month after her grandmother died. “I credit her with putting in a good word for us,” she says
Diagnosed with Gliobastoma, an especially vicious cancer, Ayden underwent surgery for a grade four spinal tumor in May, but doctors were only able to remove 30 percent, she says, with the rest left to be treated by chemo while he grows bigger and stronger in the years ahead, and becomes a candidate for more aggressive, high tech radiation one day.
Meanwhile, he’s now progressed so much that he’s often out of his wheelchair, running and playing baseball and soccer in the yard with his father, Jason, a 15 year law enforcement veteran who has dodged bullets and busted assorted bad guys for years, including the Satsuma drug tribe nabbed in a Putnam County Sheriff’s undercover sting last January.
Members of that tribe include Misty Croslin, now serving 15 years for drug trafficking in Florida’s Lowell Correctional Institution, and believed to be the key to solving the Cummings case, Ronald Cummings, her ex husband and father of the missing 5 year old she reported gone –almost two years ago, brother Tommy Croslin, Page Sykes, and Donna Brock, Misty’s former confidante–all behind bars as well for trafficking.
Croslin faces a second sentencing on more trafficking charges in January and could receive more than 100 years. Law enforcement has said it believes Misty is the key and knows more than she’s been he’s been telling. The investigator declined to discuss the case. But he did say he’s been up to his eyeballs busting others, including a violent drug gang in the area.
Now, he hopes, with prayers and medical breakthroughs, Ayden’s doctors will one day bust the scariest bad guy of all, and he can watch his son keep growing up healthy and happy.
“Please thank everyone for their prayers,” he says.
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Indeed, we know the family can count on our readers to keep cheering on Ayden, his oncologists at the Nemours Clinic and agents like Jolicoeur and colleagues who put their lives on the line daily to make our world a safer place for Ayden—-and all our children.
For more information about Ayden and gliobastoma, visit:
http://www.cure4ayden.com.
December 22nd, 2010 at 4:55 pm
Lots of Prayers go out to this wonderful family..and to Ayden's father you are doing a great job..
December 22nd, 2010 at 8:16 pm
My thoughts and prayers go out to this brave little boy and his family. God Bless you all, and I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
December 22nd, 2010 at 8:57 pm
I wish them all the love and happiness in the world. My thoughts and prayers are with Ayden. Have a wonderful, joyous, rejoiceful holiday!
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:41 pm
You keep fighting Ayden and we will keep praying for you. I love your thumbs up picture! May God keep you and your family safe and Merry Christmas. Prayers to you.
December 22nd, 2010 at 10:31 pm
My continued prayers are with Ayden, and his parents…
Merry Christmas, Ayden
December 23rd, 2010 at 1:24 am
I will continue to keep Ayden and his family in my thoughts and prayers. It is good to hear he is doing well and the tumor isn't growing, that's a great sign. Merry Christmas to Ayden and to his Mom and Dad, i hope they all have a wonderful relaxing day with all the joy Christmas brings. I know he's going to love his leggo's!
December 23rd, 2010 at 1:41 am
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!
Miracles do happen so never give up. My prayers are with Ayden and his family as well as for all those who are sick. God Bless you May you and your family have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
December 25th, 2010 at 4:26 am
And to you Art Harris…..Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you!! Thanks for all you do and may you have a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. It's easy to see you are an intelligent caring person with a heart of gold, thanks for including us in some of what you do. Happy.
December 26th, 2010 at 3:32 pm
Thank you for the update, Art. Sending my prayers for the family.
December 26th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
Much love & prayers for the Jolicoeur family & indescribable, immeasurable appreciation for Nemours for all that they do !!!.. KEEP UP THE GOOD FIGHT & LIVE STRONG AYDEN !!.. Aydens Momma is right,.. miracles do happen.. XOXO
December 28th, 2010 at 11:19 pm
I pray daily for news of little Haeilgh, for the investigators that are still working hard on her case. Little Ayden gives me HOPE, my 32year old daughter Vanessa has lymphoma cancer above her heart, is a strong aggressive cancer, she's fighting hard, but has too have bone marrow transplant, its so HARD, COSTLY, and just draining at times, but, GOD is good I was laying her sad, crying, not knowing, how we're going too get thru this next phase, and then I read Aydens story, saw his adorable face, and I know, I need too keep praying first of all, and have faith that God will help her medically and financially, my prayers will be with you daily Ayden, your a blessing to ALL GOD BLESS YOU.
December 28th, 2010 at 11:26 pm
Thank you for sharing your story, its so hard to watch your child, young or adult go through this is hard, but just knowing that there's other parents out there and were all fighting for the same thing, gives me hope, and I don't feel like I'm the only mother going through this, thank you again. I feel much better tonight, not so alone. God bless your son and your whole family, thank you, irene Gonzales
December 30th, 2010 at 1:10 am
This IS a season of miracles and a precious, strong boy named Ayden has proven that! I have included Ayden and his family in my daily prayers. Thank you, Jason, for all you do to keep the trash off the streets. God bless you, Shauna. May this new year be the healthiest and happiest ever!
December 30th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
To Jason, Ayden and their family…. My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family. Keep up the good work Ayden, you can kick cancer like a soccer ball. I hope your Christmas was wonderful and everything starts off a great new year.
Art, I hope you also had a wonderful holiday!
December 30th, 2010 at 9:55 pm
I wish everyone viewed children in the same way, then we would have more cheering sections for kids like Ayden rather than some mind set that thinks it is okay to injure children. Prayers from Victoria BC Vancouver Island.
December 30th, 2010 at 10:25 pm
I know the family appreciates your note and all our readers’ thoughts and prayers. We’re told Nancy Grace’s show may do a shout out to Ayden next week, maybe Tuesday…hope all our readers have a safe and happy new year, and that 2011 will bring everyone closer to their hopes and dreams. Art
January 4th, 2011 at 3:24 pm
my familys prayers are with you Ayden and your family!!
January 5th, 2011 at 12:09 am
I was happy to hear Ayden's name mentioned, and his photo shown on NG tonight.. I am a firm believer in prayer.. Prayer is powerful, and with Nancy's many viewers, and their participation in praying for this beautiful child, I have faith Ayden will be healed..
January 13th, 2011 at 5:29 pm
My prayers are with the family/ I hope Ayden had a wonderful holiday. What a brave young man. He is a darling boy. And he certainly has terrificl parents.
January 26th, 2011 at 12:17 am
Hi Art,
Have you talked to Ayden's father recently? If not, will you please, and let us know the latest on Ayden's health… I've been thinking about him, and praying for him….Thank you!
January 26th, 2011 at 2:18 am
Will do, Marti…thanks for all the thoughts and prayers. Approve