THE cancer-stricken toddler Taylor Swift donated $50,000 to in 2015 has died.
Ayden, the nephew of Taylor's backing Dancer Kim Toshi Davidson, lost his battle with the disease today, prompting a heartfelt post from his uncle.
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The cancer-stricken toddler Taylor Swift donated $50,000 to in 2015 has diedCredit: Kim DavidsonHe wrote on Instagram: "Today was one of the toughest days emotionally | So many things on my mind | So many unanswered questions | It isn’t fair | Cancer has taken a 3yr old Brave, strong & courageous little boy | The suffering is over | No more pain | Rest in Paradise Ayden Satoshi Brown (Lil Toshi) my youngest Nephew | People Please cherish your loved ones | Time is valuable | So no time for BS | Spread Love n Positivity | Thank you for supporting me n my family | #F**KCANCER #RIPLilToshi."
Back in September 2015 when Ayden, also known as 'Lil Toshi' was first diagnosed, Toshi was touched to discover Taylor's generous donation on his nephew's GoFundMe page.
Hewrote on the social media site: "So I get off the plane in Toronto and this is the 1st thing I see...@taylorswift is an angel and My family and I can't thank her enough.
"She is such an incredible human being... This will help Lil Toshi in this time of need... Let's pray for him to beat this... This unexpected gift is truly a blessing."
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Back in September 2015 when Ayden, also known as 'Lil Toshi' was first diagnosed, Toshi was touched to discover Taylor's generous donation on his nephew's GoFundMe pageCredit: AP:Associated PressTaylor has a history of donating money to those in need.
Last year she gave £770,000 to the Louisiana flood relief fund.
More than 40,000 homes were destroyed - prompting the singer to give the sizeable sum.
The Pennsylvania-born star said she donated following the support she received during her recent 1989 world tour dates in the state.
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Taylor has a history of donating money to those in needCredit: Getty Images - GettyShe said at the time: "We began The 1989 World Tour in Louisiana, and the wonderful fans there made us feel completely at home.
"The fact that so many people in Louisiana have been forced out of their own homes this week is heartbreaking."
The star has sung for sick children in hospital and donated another $50,000 dollars in 2015 to Naomi Oakes, then 11, who had been diagnosed with leukaemia.
Taylor wrote beside her GoFundMe donation: "To the beautiful and brave Naomi, I'm sorry you have to miss it, but there will always be more concerts. Let's focus on getting you feeling better. I'm sending the biggest hugs to you and your family."
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Last year she gave £770,000 to the Louisiana flood relief fundCredit: AFPTaylor Swift sings Shake it Off with sick kids in Queensland Australia during a surprise visit
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A mother who earned the support of thousands while her son coped with an aggressive form of cancer has shared a heartbreaking update, announcing the little boy has died at the age of three.
Lindsey Licari’s son, Ayden Brown, was diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, which affects muscle tissue, when he was 13 months old.
His mother launched an online campaign to help pay for her son’s treatment and cover other medical expenses. Her latest campaign, which began in February this year, raised $264,245 in eight months.
Heartbreaking: Lindsey Licari (left), who earned the support of thousands while her son coped with cancer, has shared a heartbreaking update, announcing the little boy (right) has died
Sharing: The mother took to social media on Friday to announce her son’s passing, and pledge that she will ‘never stop’ spreading awareness about childhood cancer
Ayden is the nephew of Taylor’s backup dancer Kim Toshi Davidson, and the singer herself joined the thousands of donors determined to help Lindsey and her son.
In September 2015, Taylor donated $50,000 via a Go Fund Me campaign launched by Lindsey, after hearing about Ayden’s illness through his uncle.
‘Baby Ayden, I’m lucky enough to perform with your uncle Toshi on tour. All of us are praying for you and your mama and sending so much love your way. Love, Taylor,’ she wrote on the website at the time.
Over the course of his illness, Ayden went through several rounds of chemotherapy. His mother also moved from Nevada, where she is based in Henderson, to Arizona, in an attempt to get him better treatment.
But the illness worsened and progressed from stage three to stage four, while a tumor grew visibly in Ayden’s chest.
Illness: Ayden Brown, Lindsey’s only child, was diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, which affects muscle tissue, when he was 13 months old
Symptoms: Despite several rounds of chemotherapy, the illness worsened and progressed from stage three to stage four, while a tumor grew visibly in Ayden’s chest
Tribute: Ayden, his mother said, knew every planet in the solar system and was ‘phenomenally smart’. Thousands of people donated to help with the little boy’s treatment
Earlier this year, doctors sent the little boy home in hospice care, but even then, the mother didn’t give up hope that another form of treatment might save him one day.
‘My fear scares him so I try not to cry, I try to stay positive and think about all the good things that could happen and remind him of the things that make him happy, because that’s the only way you get through it,’ she told KVVU-TV at the time.
In Arizona, doctors said Ayden only had three weeks left to live, but the little boy surpassed their prediction.
Recently, Lindsey and her son had moved back to Nevada, and Lindsey was exploring holistic remedies.
‘We were told that his tumors had progressed so far that it was pushing against his heart which was building fluid and no longer made him a candidate for any trial or surgery or radiation,’ she told KVVU-TV last last month.
The financial help received from thousands of supporters helped Lindsey pay her rent and spent time with her son, the mother added.
‘Ayden is a bad case and he’s been amazingly blessed with support and love but there’s a lot of families besides me and Ayden too that are out there suffering and don’t have a voice and don’t have resources. At least your necessities should not be a worry while you fight for your kids,’ she said.
Treatment: Much of Ayden’s life was spent in hospitals over various courses of treatment. He and his mother at one point moved to Arizona, hoping he would receive better care there
Memories: Lindsey has shared dozens of pictures of Ayden on social media, documenting the little boy’s hard times as well as happier moments, such as when he played the drums
Resilience: Earlier this year, doctors sent the little boy home in hospice care, but even then, the mother didn’t give up hope that another form of treatment might save him
On Friday, Lindsey shared a heartbreaking video on Facebook announcing her son’s passing, as well as another clip on Instagram.
‘Today, I lost my son. In this world, there was not one doctor, one person that could offer my son any options at all. And he aspirated and stopped breathing,’ she said.
‘And I tried to do CPR and bring Ayden back. But I wasn’t able to. And they tried again, the hospital six times. And even when I saw lines straight, I still knew God could still help him. But Ayden’s body couldn’t take anymore.
‘So today, I lost Ayden because we live in a world that doesn’t prepare for child cancer. And I am broken in so many ways. But they messed with the wrong mom and the wrong kid. Childhood cancer will never be the same now after Ayden.’
The mother added that she will ‘never stop’ raising awareness about childhood cancer.
Family: Ayden is the nephew of Taylor’s backup dancer Kim Toshi Davidson, who posted a tribute to the little boy on Instagram after his passing
Help: The singer herself joined the thousands of donors determined to help Lindsey and her son. She donated $50,000 in September 2015
Message: Rapper Cardi B also dedicated a post to the little boy, sharing a photo of Ayden in a firefighter outfit with her 12.7 million followers
‘No matter who I called, there was nothing I could do. But I knew if this disease was going to take Ayden, everybody in the world would know who my son is. Everybody will know Ayden Setoshi Brown,’ she added.
‘He was three years old. He could tell you every planet in the solar system. He was phenomenally smart and he loved me so much and I loved him too. He didn’t deserve to die. These kids don’t deserve to die. And if I can do anything in my power, I will make sure that no mother feels how I feel today and have to put their kid in a bag.’
On social media, Lindsey has used the hashtag #hedeservedmorethan4%, in reference to the fact that in recent years, pediatric cancer received only four per cent of US federal funding for research.
Ayden’s uncle paid tribute to his nephew in a heart-wrenching Instagram post, writing: ‘Today was one of the toughest days emotionally | So many things on my mind | So many unanswered questions | It isn’t fair | Cancer has taken a 3yr old Brave, strong & courageous little boy | The suffering is over | No more pain | Rest in Paradise Ayden Satoshi Brown (Lil Toshi) my youngest Nephew | People Please cherish your loved ones | Time is valuable | So no time for BS | Spread Love n Positivity | Thank you for supporting me n my family.’
Rapper Cardi B also dedicated a post to the little boy. She shared a photo of Ayden in a firefighter outfit with her 12.7 million followers, telling his mother: ‘You have touch sooo many people. Stay strong.’