4AydenStrong Foundation
Donation protected
Our Mission
Ayden Zeigler -Kohler, 10-years old, passed away after battling DIPG for 7 months. In honor of Ayden, the 4AydenStrong Foundation was created.
Our mission is to bring awareness to not only DIPG but to all pediatric cancer and to fund research given the limited funding that is currently in place. Unfortunately, only 4% of government funding goes towards pediatric cancer research. We also provide financial assistance to families who may be experiencing hardship while seeking treatment , clinical trials or more importantly making as many memories as possible until a cure is found. Many families have already benefited from 4AydenStrong. Ayden’s wheelchair was donated and shipped to another child with DIPG, money has been donated to multiple families to help with their needs, and items to assist in caring for and keeping a child comfortable have been donated in Ayden’s name.
Our battle has just begun. These brave, courageous children deserve the chance to live a long and happy life!
Ayden Zeigler-Kohler was a 9 year old, very active, athletic, funny and caring kid who was at football practice on August 8, 2016, when he suddenly fell while running and was unable to get up. The next few days were filled with imaging studies, blood work and surgery to figure out what exactly was going on. Then, on August 16, 2016, his parents were given the devastating news. Ayden had DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma).
DIPG is an aggressive, inoperable brain cancer with no cure. Ayden was given only 9-12 short months to live. The doctors advised his parents that the standard care for DIPG is six weeks of radiation, which would shrink the tumor and allow Ayden to have a few months of “normalcy”. Steroids would be administered to help with inflammation. Chemotherapy was an option they could try, however there was not a ton of data to prove that it would even help in this situation.
As his parents made the 45 minute trip to John Hopkins Cancer Center five days a week for six weeks for radiation, they continued researching this evil cancer. They found that their only other option was to try to find a clinical trial which may or may not help to extend Ayden’s life. They also found that not all patients are accepted to clinical trials and most times these trials are not covered by insurance.
After being denied by multiple clinical trials the Kohler’s applied for, they decided to try chemotherapy. As Ayden slowly began to decline, his family decided that rather than continuing to put all of their time and effort into finding a trial willing to accept him, they were going to make a lifetime of memories in whatever time they had left with him.
In between physical and occupational therapy, chemotherapy, trips to the lab for blood work, and so on, they went on fishing trips, hunting trips, daily outings, an NBA game, NFL games, and many other adventures, Ayden even had the opportunity to host is own hunting show.
Unfortunately, Ayden passed away just 7 months and 7 days after his diagnosis at the age of 10 years old. Our mission is in honor of Ayden.
Ayden Zeigler -Kohler, 10-years old, passed away after battling DIPG for 7 months. In honor of Ayden, the 4AydenStrong Foundation was created.
Our mission is to bring awareness to not only DIPG but to all pediatric cancer and to fund research given the limited funding that is currently in place. Unfortunately, only 4% of government funding goes towards pediatric cancer research. We also provide financial assistance to families who may be experiencing hardship while seeking treatment , clinical trials or more importantly making as many memories as possible until a cure is found. Many families have already benefited from 4AydenStrong. Ayden’s wheelchair was donated and shipped to another child with DIPG, money has been donated to multiple families to help with their needs, and items to assist in caring for and keeping a child comfortable have been donated in Ayden’s name.
Our battle has just begun. These brave, courageous children deserve the chance to live a long and happy life!
Ayden Zeigler-Kohler was a 9 year old, very active, athletic, funny and caring kid who was at football practice on August 8, 2016, when he suddenly fell while running and was unable to get up. The next few days were filled with imaging studies, blood work and surgery to figure out what exactly was going on. Then, on August 16, 2016, his parents were given the devastating news. Ayden had DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma).
DIPG is an aggressive, inoperable brain cancer with no cure. Ayden was given only 9-12 short months to live. The doctors advised his parents that the standard care for DIPG is six weeks of radiation, which would shrink the tumor and allow Ayden to have a few months of “normalcy”. Steroids would be administered to help with inflammation. Chemotherapy was an option they could try, however there was not a ton of data to prove that it would even help in this situation.
As his parents made the 45 minute trip to John Hopkins Cancer Center five days a week for six weeks for radiation, they continued researching this evil cancer. They found that their only other option was to try to find a clinical trial which may or may not help to extend Ayden’s life. They also found that not all patients are accepted to clinical trials and most times these trials are not covered by insurance.
After being denied by multiple clinical trials the Kohler’s applied for, they decided to try chemotherapy. As Ayden slowly began to decline, his family decided that rather than continuing to put all of their time and effort into finding a trial willing to accept him, they were going to make a lifetime of memories in whatever time they had left with him.
In between physical and occupational therapy, chemotherapy, trips to the lab for blood work, and so on, they went on fishing trips, hunting trips, daily outings, an NBA game, NFL games, and many other adventures, Ayden even had the opportunity to host is own hunting show.
Unfortunately, Ayden passed away just 7 months and 7 days after his diagnosis at the age of 10 years old. Our mission is in honor of Ayden.
"Our battle has just begun. We will not stop. We will not give up. We will forever remain Ayden Strong!"
Please visit the foundation's website at http://4aydenstrong.com/
Thank you for your support!
Shay Weber
Organizer and beneficiary
Shay Weber
Organizer
York, PA
Cathy Kohler
Beneficiary