What began as a typical December for 10-year-old Kaden Stevenson of Grand Blanc, Michigan, quickly turned into a life-altering battle. Right before Christmas in 2022, Kaden’s mom noticed he wasn’t his usual energetic self. After days of monitoring and worsening leg pain, she rushed him to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with Influenza A, strep, and toxic shock syndrome, all of which caused a severe infection in his bloodstream.
Kaden was airlifted to the children’s hospital in Grand Rapids, where pediatric surgeons worked urgently to save his life. Despite their efforts, both of Kaden’s legs had to be amputated—his right leg above the knee and his left leg below. He spent nearly nine weeks in the hospital and rehabilitation and will require additional surgeries as he grows.
His mother, Michele, recalls, “I had made the mistake of not getting Kaden’s flu vaccine that year, but I never knew anyone could become that ill from the flu. Now, we get our flu shot every year, and we share Kaden’s story, so this doesn’t happen to another family.”
Through his recovery, Kaden found strength and purpose. He told his mom he must have superpowers because he survived the flu—and he wanted to use those powers to help protect other kids. That’s when “Kaden Blaze, Flu Fighter” was born.
Families Fighting Flu helped bring Kaden’s vision to life through the new comic book “Kaden Blaze Fights the Flu Bug.” At its launch event, Kaden and his classmates used their superhero powers—and a “Community Immunity” cheer—to defeat the pesky Flu Bug character, sparking conversations about the importance of flu vaccination for kids and families everywhere.
As Michele Slafkosky, Executive Director of Families Fighting Flu, said: “Kaden has always been a superhero to all of us who know him. We hope his story helps parents, kids, and healthcare providers have fact-based discussions about the importance of vaccination.”
Kaden’s story is both a powerful reminder and a beacon of hope. With the help of his comic book alter ego, Kaden Blaze, he’s turning his personal battle into a mission to protect others from the dangers of the flu.
Learn more about Kaden here.