In the summer of 2014, after scoring the winning run in a championship baseball game, 13-year-old Cade Slattengren discovered some large lumps in his armpits. The next day, during an appointment at Essentia Health, an x-ray revealed that he had a large mass in his chest. He was helicoptered to the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities where he was diagnosed with T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia. During the first ten months of his 3 ½ year treatment plan, Cade had to spend one week each month in the hospital. He is currently in remission but must continue treatment until 2017.
Update – The following is an update provided by Cade in 2023:
“Hey everyone! I’m Cade Slattengren. I was diagnosed with leukemia in 2014 and underwent 3 1/2 years of chemotherapy treatment. The Northern Lights Foundation helped my family through a very difficult time, and we are forever grateful for that.
🎓 Since then, I finished high school & went on to attend the University of St. Thomas. I graduated last weekend with a Bachelors Degree in Biology. I hope to become a physicians assistant and give back to patients just as my healthcare providers did for me.
In my free time I love to golf and play volleyball. I am currently working at Regions Hospital gaining valuable experience as I apply for PA school. Best of all, I am cancer free!”