INDIANAPOLIS — Cayden Singer is 12-years-old. The Lynhurst 7th & 8th Grade Center student would have been starting his first year at his new school this fall, but instead, he’s remained at home doing e-learning.
“Mainly I miss going out and seeing friends and family,” Cayden said.
Since the pandemic started Cayden and his family have been in quarantine.
“We’ve been really stuck in the house and so secluded with ourselves,” Joslyn Singer said.
Joslyn is Cayden’s older sister. The eighth-grader has also missed out on a lot in 2020 like playing softball and visiting friends. It’s all to keep her brother safe.
"It’s hard because we see a lot of people out living life like normal,” Cayden’s mom, Shanon Singer-Mann said.
Cayden has a rare lung disease and a brain tumor. He underwent a year and a half of chemotherapy treatment and has had brain surgery twice.
“So that makes him even more immune-compromised,” Shanon said. "He’s very very high risk of catching Covid. If he was to catch it, it would be very very bad.”
For his safety, Cayden’s dad is now the only one who works in the house and has moved into the basement.
“We have a rigorous routine, shoes off on the front porch. He comes in Lysol’s keys, hats, and clothes go in the washing machine. He washes his hands.“ Shanon said. “He's moved into the basement. He sleeps down there, he stays down there, eats down there, we see him in passing for the most part.”
It’s all for Cayden’s safety.
“We are grateful for what we do have," Shanon said. "We are grateful we have each other, that we have God, and we are staying healthy and Cayden is staying healthy and we are doing our part."
While Cayden’s family does all they can to keep him safe and healthy, his mother has a message for the community and those who aren’t taking precautions to stop the spread of the coronavirus: Wear a mask and follow advice from health officials.
“People are losing loved ones. They are losing lives," Shanon said. "I have friends that are fighting this right now, I have friends who have lost loved ones because of this. I just feel like it’s a small sacrifice to make."
