Parents: Maryla Gallagher, Scott Gallagher
Siblings: loving little sister Cali Beth Gallagher
Grandparents: Janet Gallagher, Bob Bowers
Birthday: A glorious Spring Day – Thursday, April 22, 1993
Home: London (Byron) Ontario
School Info: Byron Southwood Public School – Grade 1-3

Story: Caedan was a big, happy, healthy baby and toddler.  With big brown eyes and curly brown hair.  He reached milestones at the right times and kept us entertained with his “shows of singing and performing”.  He was a first grandchild for Scott’s parents and a first nephew for his brothers.  He had us all in awe of him as only a “first” child can do.  He was robust and healthy for his first two years so we were shocked into disbelief when he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at just 27 months of age.

He battled through 38 months of chemotherapy and finished treatment when he was 7-1/2 years old.

We couldn’t believe it when he relapsed two years later.  This relapse meant that he had a very aggressive form of cancer.

He immediately began a life-threateningly aggressive protocol for chemotherapy.  He was in the hospital more that year than out.  Sadly, after 15 months of this high dose of chemotherapy treatment, the cancer still managed to return.

Just one month before his 9th birthday he went to Toronto for a Bone Marrow Transplant.

He fought long and hard following this incredible treatment with lung and then blood infections.

Ultimately, in August of 2002, he acquired a devastating lung infection that could not be healed. 

Caedan died on Thursday, September 12, 2002.  He was only 9-1/2 years old.

Favourites

• Colour: Orange, Yellow, bright colours
• Nick / pet names: Cali called him Dae Dae and we called him Little Man as a baby and toddler.
• Hospital staff: Lisa Hawthornthwaite, ChildLife Specialist kept him so entertained through so many of his long days in hospital.
• Camp trillum staff: TIC Match, Mike Ginsburg, of course!
• Teacher: All of them!
• Treatment friends: Dustin Drury, Cody Simpson, Jonathon Hodge, Josh Weber, Austin Cutone, Kaleigh Barney, and Brennan Howe
• Friends: Robert Sanderson was Caedan’s best friend.  They met when they were only a few weeks old and loved each other as only best friends can.
• Wish: to grow up and find a pill that would cure cancer.  Also to meet Bill Cosby and Colin Mochrie.
• Events / moments: Watching Caedan the first time he held his new baby sister in his arms and the look of astonishment and love in his eyes will remain in my heart forever.

I’ll always cherish the memory of Caedan participating in the school Cross Country Race when he was in the midst of his relapse treatment.  He and his friend Josh came in last but they were thrilled to be a part of it all!

• Songs: Hallelujah from the Shrek CD.  I will always think of his loving friends when I hear that song.
• Pets: Phoebe the Cat from Outer Space; Derby the Retired Racing Greyhound; Cotton and Garfield
• Interests: Pokemon, writing stories, drawing pictures, Harry Potter books and movies, N64, Basketball, swimming
• Traits: His big, beautiful brown eyes.  His Silliness and love of making others laugh.  His compassion for other children.  His wisdom beyond his years.
• Books: The Math Magician, Harry Potter, The Magic Treehouse Series

Mom & Dads Comments:  Caedan was the light that led our way through life.  His light continues to shine as people continue to remember him and learn from him.

For Caedan's story of treatment see: www.caringbridge.org/canada/caedan