Little Easton Carraway is facing a big battle. The normally bright-eyed and active 15-month-old baby was having what seemed to be pretty severe stomach pains.

His parents, Cody Carraway and Kahlee Salter, discovered their son’s condition was far worse than just a bad tummy ache.            

Easton has been diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer called sacrococcygeal teratoma.  Tests showed that tumors in Easton’s pelvis have spread to both lungs as well as the muscle tissue around his pelvis. It has been diagnosed as a stage four cancer, with quick and aggressive treatment an absolute necessity for the child.

Initially a patient at the University of South Alabama Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Mobile, Easton is now being treated at Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, where his parents plan to remain at his side “for as long as it takes.”

Easton’s mother  Kahlee, who works at WAVE Medical Technologies in Mobile, has many relatives in the Butler County area. Cody, a firefighter in Foley who has served as a first responder in both Mobile and Baldwin counties during his career, is seeing his fellow fire station employees across south Alabama band together to help the family in a time of crisis.

Members of the couple’s extended work family have collected gas and restaurant gift cards along with cash donations to help the couple with the extra expenses they are incurring.

Cody Carraway has described their lives as akin to “living in a whirlwind,” with little rest for either parent as they watch their baby fighting for his life. In spite of all the uncertainty, both parents say they hold tight to their faith and the support they’ve received from across the community and beyond.

A GoFundMe account has been established to help with Easton’s medical bills.  More than $23,000 has already been donated to the account toward a goal of $25,000. Anyone wishing to donate to this cause should go to https://www.gofundme.com/eastons-fight-against-cancer.