Prognosis dire for young patient, but Butler family refuses to give up
Many in Butler County have donated money online, provided items for basket raffles, or enjoyed a plate of spaghetti at a fundraiser dinner, but now, the family of Aiden Bartley, 10, is in need of prayers.
While signs were encouraging in February regarding Aiden’s metastatic, stage 4 pancreatic cancer, UPMC Children’s Hospital has released him from their care.
“He was discharged because there was nothing else they felt they could do,” said Aiden’s mother, Megan. “They gave him a six-month time frame, but we were like ‘We can’t give up on him.’”
The Butler couple, Megan and Mike Bartley, did not tell their son about the prognosis, and are requesting those who run into the family do not share the information or behave any differently toward their son.
“It’s very important that nobody says anything to him,” Bartley said of the grim diagnosis. “If he loses his will to fight, we’ve lost him.”
The Bartleys said St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital declined to take Aiden’s case because — like the doctors at UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh — they have never seen a case of pancreatic cancer in a child.
The family got a second opinion from doctors at Cleveland Clinic, who agreed to accept his case.
“They said he already got all five chemotherapy drugs they usually use to treat this, but they can be used in different concentrations,” Bartley said. “They are willing to try whatever they can, as long as it doesn’t diminish his quality of life.”
She said doctors at Cleveland Clinic agreed to continue chemotherapy and radiation until side effects make Aiden too sick or the treatments are clearly too hard on his body.
“Then we will have to make a decision,” Bartley said.
She said UPMC Children’s Hospital recommended the Bartleys contact Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as well.
“They have some clinical trials,” Bartley said, “but we might go out there and then he’s not accepted. Right now, we’re waiting to hear what Cleveland Clinic’s game plan is.”
As for Aiden’s current condition, Bartley said he is comfortable and happy. The family attended the Butler Farm Show, where Aiden and younger brother, Jack, and sister, Carmella, played games and enjoyed the festive atmosphere.
“If you did not know he has cancer, you wouldn’t even know he’s sick,” Bartley said. “He’s 178 pounds. He’s eating like a pig. He’s doing well.”
She said doctors blamed a recent spell of mild back pain on a pulled muscle.
“When they told us he has six months to live, I was like ‘This boy? Do you not see him right now?’” Bartley said. “We haven’t even thought of palliative care yet. It’s really hard.”
She said she and Mike are using the life insurance policy they bought when Aiden was born as well as his college fund to help sustain them as this latest event plays out.
They are saving the online fundraising money for the hospital bills they will face when Aiden’s treatment begins.
“We want to make sure we are OK, because obviously, we are going to have to take off work,” Bartley said. “Mike and I have been through a lot of hard things in our lives and this is by far the hardest, but our philosophy is we don’t have a choice.”
One worry the Bartleys share that never enters the minds of most parents is whether their 3-year-old son will remember his brother.
The couple have taken many pictures of Aiden with his two younger siblings and had professional family portraits taken as well.
“If he does pass, those are things we’ll want and need,” Bartley said through tears. “I’m not naive to the fact that he might not be here by Christmas, but if we focus on that, we are not doing him any justice.”
She said family and friends, as well as the Butler County community at large, have been incredibly supportive since Aiden was diagnosed after complaining of stomach aches in October, 2022.
“People from all over the country have prayed for him and donated to his GoFundMe,” Bartley said. “We definitely have a big support system.”
She said Riding for the Cure will host a Bar Bingo event Thursday, Sept. 14, at the Beer Garden in Washington Township, strangers have donated Pittsburgh Pirates and Pittsburgh Penguins tickets, his teachers from McQuistion Elementary School have called over the summer to check on him, and family and friends have held private fundraisers to get Aiden a few things he needed and wanted.
She said any NexTier Bank will accept donations for Aiden’s care as well.
Most recently, Jamie’s Dream Team, of McKeesport, Allegheny County, has created “Aiden’s Bucket List” and is trying to complete each item on the list.
“She talked with Aiden about the things he wants to do in his lifetime,” Bartley said. “Dreams of his.”
Many video game- and Pokemon-related items on the list have been fulfilled, including a visit to the Build-a-Bear location in Pittsburgh, where Aiden made several bears that include his voice.
Jamie Ward, who created Jamie’s Dream Team, said Megan Bartley reached out to her asking if her organization could help with Aiden’s bucket list.
Since then, several charitable foundations have contacted her to help fulfill the bucket list.
As of Monday night, more than $24,000 had been donated. “We are so grateful to everyone who came forward to help and we just hope that he can get the treatment he needs,” Ward said.
She said she was immediately touched by the Bartleys’ story and their dedication to Aiden and his care.
“His story is very heart-wrenching,” Ward said. “I mean, the kid is 10 years old and has pancreatic cancer. He’s one of the only kids in America who has it.”
To donate online, search “Aiden’s Bucket List” on gofundme.com.
Bartley said those who want to send Aiden a card or letter of encouragement that does not reveal his latest diagnosis can call his grandmother, Connie Wetzel, at 724-498-6420 to get the address.
“And they can pray,” Bartley said.
