Cupcakes help raise a special boy
BRYANSTON – Aidan is doing better than ever. Even though he still needs extensive medical attention, he is happy.
A little boy with a rare disease from Bryanston won’t let a rare disease, Costello syndrome take away his happiness.
Aidan Hunt (6) was diagnosed with Costello syndrome in 2011 and is one of only two reported cases in South Africa. The disease increases Aidan’s chance to get cancer and he has to have his abdomen scanned every three months for cancerous tumors. It also affects his growth development and has caused abnormalities in his feet.
His mother, Melissa Hunt and Aidan’s grandmother started a brand called Raising Aiden in order to care for his somewhat R35 000 to R40 000 in medical expenses each month. To help in this, Hunt sells ready-made cupcake mixture that needs to be baked for two minutes. Hunt mentioned that she offers nine flavours, but recently developed the Banting range as well as a gluten-free range. Hunt and Aidan recently moved from Broadacres to Bryanston, but the Raising Aiden cupcake-mix is manufactured and sold from her mother’s home. “People can order online and their order can be delivered within a couple days,” explained Hunt.
Aidan is doing very well, according to Hunt. “He is a very happy boy and loves his new school. He makes friends very easily,” said Hunt. In May last year, Aidan had to undergo surgery that helped correct his feet. “His feet were in casts for six and a half weeks. He was somewhat depressed, as he could not walk, but once the casts came off, it was like he was a different boy.” She explained that Aidan takes growth hormones daily. “He struggled to sleep and woke up at least ten times a night, but now he is sleeping soundly,” said Hunt.
Hunt said that parents with special-needs children have to go through the grieving stage. “Once you’ve gone through that, these children are the biggest gift you could ever receive,” said Hunt. She is planning to publish a book about Aidan’s story, along with cupcake recipes, once she manages to raise enough money. Hunt concluded that one ought to “live life as though everything is rigged in one’s favour”.
Details: Melissa Hunt, 083 678 8819.
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Buy a cupcake and help raise Aidan
