UI Stead Family Children's Hospital Kid Captain 2017: Hayden Wheatley

When Hayden was 19 months old, a mass was found on her brain stem which required surgery to save her life. Hayden experienced several serious complications, including a stroke, following surgery and was placed on life support. She defied the odds and survived, then underwent radiation and chemotherapy to treat anaplastic ependymoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Meet Hayden Wheatley from Hamilton, Illinois at uichildrens.org/2017-hayden.