by Christina Echegaray
Because getting diagnosed with most cancers, Jayden Bailey, 14, has been sidelined from enjoying basketball, the activity he loves most. He also enjoys remaining capable to don his assortment of basketball sneakers when on the court.
Jayden, from Lebanon, Tennessee, was diagnosed June 26, 2022, with osteosarcoma, a most cancers that originates in the bone forming cells, which was found out in his still left shoulder. He had a portion of his bone removed from his shoulder and higher arm for a tumor resection. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Healthcare facility at Vanderbilt.
“We definitely did not hope at all that it was most cancers,” Jayden reported. “I was complaining about my shoulder for a when, but we just took it as me remaining sore because I was actively playing a ton with heading to methods and online games.”
“Looking again, his shoulder looks seriously huge and swollen in photos,” extra Jayden’s mom, London Elie. “We just believed he had gotten a lot of muscle and was expanding.”
Correct now, Jayden is on his fifth cycle (out of six) of treatment method. When questioned what motivates him, he replied: “Getting back to basketball.”
Lately, Jayden “got again to basketball” in a way he hardly ever imagined, and he got to integrate his love for basketball sneakers. He received to structure a specific pair of Nike Air Max shoes for Jerry Stackhouse, coach of the Vanderbilt College men’s basketball staff, to use in the course of the Jan. 24 Coaches vs. Cancer “Suits and Sneakers” basketball match. VU took on the Kentucky Wildcats, and Jayden watched as a specific visitor.
Coaches vs. Most cancers is a nationwide, weeklong fundraising initiative of the American Cancer Culture. The “Suits and Sneakers” online games assistance and increase consciousness of childhood most cancers study and packages.
With his mom’s aid, Jayden chose to colour a yellow ribbon throughout a part of the shoes surrounded by black. The yellow ribbon represents childhood most cancers, and the shades coincidently match VU’s signature black and gold. They also inscribed the words and phrases “Jayden’s Journey” and “Childhood Cancer” on each shoe.
This was the 2nd 12 months that VU men’s basketball teamed up with Monroe Carell to have a affected person style and design a pair of sneakers for the “Suits and Sneakers” recreation.
“As a system, we are touched to assistance bring ongoing recognition to the battle against most cancers via the “Suits and Sneakers” initiative. We hope our efforts inspire people battling this terrible condition,” said Stackhouse claimed.
“We are impressed by Jayden and his family’s energy and preventing spirit. The perform our Vanderbilt local community teammates at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Heart and Monroe Carell are accomplishing versus most cancers is genuinely remarkable. Our Commodore application is always completely ready and honored to aid assist Jayden and all those people battling. We are all in this struggle jointly.”
Jayden attended the VU basketball game with his mom, his grandfather, Lester Elie, and his 2-year-previous sister, Amira Jade. They sat correct driving the VU basketball crew.
“It was just so amazing staying there,” Jayden reported, noting it was his initially time at an in-individual college or university or pro basketball game. “It was a extremely great practical experience,” he mentioned.
“He doesn’t get excited about a ton of items, so it was seriously nice to see him so pleased,” London Elie explained about her son attending the recreation.
Jayden joked he would only observe game titles in man or woman from now on rather of Television set — if that was an option. He regularly watches basketball on Television set, typically tuning in to the Memphis Grizzlies’ game titles to look at his favourite NBA participant, Ja Morant.
Jayden, who is about 6 toes tall, hopes to participate in faculty basketball a single day, subsequent in his family’s footsteps.
His grandfather, Lester, recognized as “Pa Pa” and who stands 6 toes 6 inches tall, played college basketball for Northwestern State. Jayden’s mom played at centre for Trevecca College and then Cumberland University.
