05/19/2026
We wanted to share our ‘Karson’s Warrior Grant’ recipient family who received last year’s Grant. Below is the Abare Family’s story…
“A few days after Thanksgiving, our second born 20 month old son, Cayden, started walking mechanically. Within days he stopped bearing weight on his legs all together and stopped walking. As he previously had a fall off the dining room chair, we first thought maybe he had pulled something or sprained something. Our pediatricians took a look, didn't find anything wrong with range of motion, sent us for x rays, x rays came back normal, went back again for another exam, still didn't find anything, so they ordered a full blood panel. That night we got a call saying to pack a bag for a few days and get to UVM immediately, there was something off with his blood work and it could be leukemia. So, the 3 of us drove to Vermont in a snow storm not knowing what awaited us. We went into the ER, they took labs and admitted us. The next morning, Dr. Hunt who had followed us as he was born with only one kidney, came in to see us and let us know they had the best team working on him. As we already trusted her, this made us feel we were in good hands. The next friendly face we met was as you mentioned, Dr. Bradeen who we adore, she told us they looked at the blood work and it looked like ALL leukemia and she suggested we start treatment immediately. By Friday he had a port in his chest, his first lumbar puncture, his first bone marrow aspiration, and the chemo and steroids began immediately. No time was wasted, we barely had time to process everything that was happening. In two weeks time we went from healthy happy baby boy to looking at him in a hospital bed in recovery with a tube in his chest knowing he is looking at 2.5 years of treatments ahead. It was devastating yet we were very grateful. We hardly had time for more fear and doubts to creep in as they were already working toward ridding his body of this cancer.”
Thank you so much for sharing your story. We know how incredibly hard that can be, especially when you are in the midst of it. We wish you all the best in continued treatment ~ and we are so glad that you are in such good hands. 🎗️🙏
It makes my heart happy to see that just as Karson’s team embraced us as family, they did the same with the Abare’s, and every family they treat. What a testament to the remarkable care of the Pediatric Oncology team at Golisano Children's Hospital at UVM Health. So much light and love. This just reinforces why it was important for us to give back, and donate 10% of funds raised to the Pediatric Oncology department there.
