Holden loved every minute of life. He was relentless in his pursuit of being a “normal” kid, even during intense treatment for Wilms tumor — riding the bus, going to first grade, playing baseball, being a friend.
He loved playing Monkey in the Middle with his brother Hayden and had a fondness for Costco pizza. He relished being the banker in Monopoly, and insisted on occupying that role during every game. He liked counting and stashing money. Holden had a big jar in his room where he kept his savings. At any given time, he knew exactly how much he had in the jar — down to the penny.
When his family held a St. Baldrick’s event on his fifth birthday, Holden was all smiles as his parents and brother shaved their heads.
“Holden chortled because in an odd turn of events he was the only one in the family who had hair,” his mom, Miriam, said.
He handled cancer and treatments with amazing grace, rolling with the punches, full of laughter, joy, and love. As his mom said, Holden did not let cancer or hemodialysis get in the way of him enjoying being a kid.
Holden passed away on May 22, 2014, nine days before his seventh birthday. The St. Baldrick’s Invictus Hero Fund is in memory of Holden’s unconquerable spirit.
Holden is one of five St. Baldrick’s Foundation 2016 Ambassadors, representing the thousands of kids touched by cancer each year.
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