[Update] -It is with heavy hearts we share that Aaron passed away on June 27th, 2016. We are honored to have known Aaron during his too brief life and will continue to celebrate his legacy of positivity and bravery.

At 13, Aaron was already a Renaissance man. He played the alto sax. He sang in the choir. He’d even trained in ballroom dancing. And in the midst of it all, he battled leukemia.

Initially diagnosed in 2009, Aaron underwent a tough treatment regimen for over three years. Despite multiple relapses, Aaron faced his cancer with a positive attitude and wisdom beyond his years.

“They say the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” he said. “That’s what chemo was like for me—it felt like forever, but by taking it one day at a time, I got through it.”

Aaron said he’s grateful to CCA for all the help he received along the way. “My Chemo Pal Douglas was great,” he said. “We played chess, built all sorts of stuff with Legos, and even got to go to some Blazer games. I loved the MyMusicRx team, too. They wrote me my very own anthem.” It’s called, fittingly, “The Aaron Song.”

Aaron was looking forward to studying orthopedic medicine. “My joints always hurt during treatment, and I wanted to know how to fix them,” he explained. “But really, I just want to give back and help other kids like me,” spoken like a true hero.