As many people reading this know, my nephew Cayden McCowan truly is a one in a million little boy. In addition to being super funny, sweet and kind, Cayden was born with Arterial tortuosity Syndrome (ATS), a very rare connective tissue disorder that only around 100 people have been documented to have in the WORLD.

Over the last four and a half years our brave superhero has endured many medical procedures, appointments, and tests monitoring his health. He has had routine appointments at The University of Michigan starting at two months old.

Unfortunately as he has aged the doctors have discovered an aneurysm that has grown to a size that requires open heart surgery. Without intervention the risk of it rupturing increasingly grows. In addition to this, after becoming a big brother, Cayden successfully underwent a hernia repair surgery in May which required a multiple day hospital stay. 

His operation is scheduled to occur in 8 short weeks at the University of Michigan. The operation itself is on the largest artery in the body and will take roughly 8 hours to complete. To follow is a multiple week hospital stay that will require his parents, Tess and Caylob to be off work and by his side. In addition to the loss of income there is also expected expenses for his hospitalization.

We are blessed to be part of such a supportive community, and I’ve seen time and again how everyone comes together in times of need. Please keep Cayden, his family, and his medical team at The University of Michigan in your prayers as he prepares for surgery and recovery. If you are able, any donation would be greatly appreciated and will help ease the financial burden during this difficult time.

Thank you for your prayers, support, and generosity.

Ashleigh Cooper