Obituary - Cash Michael Hyde
Cash “Cashy” Michael Hyde, 4 years old, passed away after a two and a half year battle with brain cancer, in the loving arms of his parents, surrounded by family and friends on November 14, 2012 at 9:55 PM. Cashy endured more pain and suffering than any child should ever have to go through, but he always did it with a smile on his face.Cashy changed the face of pediatric cancer and pioneered a new way of alternative cancer treatment around the world. He taught everybody the meaning of love and that miracles do happen when everyone unites for a common goal.
Cashy loved taking trips to walmart for cars, play-doh, and markers and his latest obsession was driving in the van to the gas station for a “bug juice”, which he didn’t even drink. He loved cheese sammys, cheerios and milk, Bandaids, stickers, his dogs Irey and Muffy and of course the movies Cars, Bolt and Toy Story. We went on many memorable family trips. His Make a Wish trip to Disney World in 2011, many trips to Salt Lake City, numerous trips in California such as the San Diego Zoo, strolling on the pier in Santa Monica, while we were making the best of our time undergoing radiation treatments in Loma Linda. Our last big road trip to San Francisco for Cashy’s 4th birthday was to donate twenty reggae runners to the local children’s hospitals. Cashy test drove and gave his stamp of approval to each runner that we donated.
Cashy was born in Missoula, Montana on June 21st, 2008 to Mike and Kalli Hyde. He was a little brother to Colten John and an amazing big brother to Catherine Joy, his baby sis. Cashy is survived by parents Michael and Kalli, siblings Colten and Catherine, grandparents Jim and Julie Hyde, Vickie Wilson and Kevin McCarthy; great grandparents Catherine and Jim Hyde, and Marilyn McCarthy; uncles Domonic, Joe, Grady, Sam, Pat, Dan, Casey, Troy and Jake; aunts Jenny, Janess, Lyndsey, Michele, Sarah, Brittney and Ashly; as well as the many other loving greats aunts and uncles, cousins, dear friends, and fans all around the world.
An open service is scheduled for Monday, November 19 at 10:30 am at St. Francis Xavier Church. Viewing will begin at 9:15am. A police escort procession will follow the service, and family, friends and fans are encouraged to come and show their support and celebrate his life. People are welcome to convene back at St. Francis following the procession for a potluck style reception. People are encouraged to bring a dish to share. Garden City funeral home is assisting us with our final days with Cashy. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Cash Hyde Foundation, at www.cashhydfoundation.com or at First Montana Bank of Missoula, so we can continue to help other families that are battling this horrific disease with their children. A special thanks to Rose Habib, Ringo, Vaughn, and Corinne and John for your dedication to helping Cashy through his journey. Thank you everyone who has given our family your hearts and love during his courageous battle.
Welcome
When Cashy was 20 months old Radiologist’s at Community Medical Center in Missoula, MT. Discovered a 4.5 cm. Stage 4 Brain Tumor in Cashy. He was transported on Life Flight to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT. Cashy was placed on the 2nd floor NTU intensive care unit.Cashy went into emergency open brain surgery the following day to try and remove the tumor. The surgeon’s only removed 10% of the tumor for biopsy because it had grown around his optic nerves. After the surgery Cashy lost his eyesight from the pressure of the tumor on his optic nerves.
Oncologist’s diagnosed Cashy with a Malignant and Aggressive Cancer classified as a PNET Brain Tumor. PNET’s are part of the Blue Cell Cancer group that our aggressive and have a high fatality rate. The Oncologist recommended that Cashy receive 3cycles of Chemotherapy followed by 3 cycles of High Dose Chemotherapy with Stem Cell Rescue. This protocol is aggressive and will take 6 to 8 months to complete.
We were told that we needed to do the treatment at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT and that Cashy would have to stay in the hospital for weeks at a time. We returned home to Missoula for 6 days to pack are basic belongings and prepare ourselves for the Battle of a Lifetime!
There are no words to describe watching chemotherapy take effect on someone you love. Chemotherapy kills cancer cells very aggressively unfortunately it kills healthy cells the same. If cancer has ever touched your life or the life of someone you know, I don’t have to tell you how devastating it is.
From the day Cashy’s tumor was discovered he has marveled the medical profession and defied odds countless times. Cashy is considered a Miracle to thousands of people around the world and many Doctors and Nurses. Along the way Cashy regained his vision, survived seizures, and many PICU emergencies. There were many ups and downs along the way but each day Cashy would fight with a smile earning him the title “THE BOY OF STEEL.”
Unfortunately on October-12-2011 the Hyde’s were told that Cashy’s brain tumor was back and that he must begin Proton Beam Radiation at the Loma Linda University in California. With radiation treatment Cash has a 30% chance of 5 year survival and risk of Leukemia Cancer, Blindness and severe Brain damage.
I Bet We Can Find 10,000 People To Pray For Cash Michael Hyde
This Face Book Page was made when Cashy was first diagnosed with Cancer. It was very comforting to read the prayers and comments from Friends, Family Members, and Strangers that have never even met Cashy or our Family. We appreciate everyone that commented and prayed for Cashy and our family. Cashy’s Face Book page has gained over 14,000 People that have Laughed, Cried, and Prayed with us during this Amazing journey.
Fundraisers & Donations
This Battle would not have been possible without the financial support we received from the fundraisers & donations that were put together by family, friends and strangers all across Montana, and other States thanks to Cashy’s Face Book friends. We were able to leave work for 9 months and concentrate on helping Cashy fight Cancer as a Family. We were able to be at the hospital 24hrs a day and Cashy never had to be alone. We are very thankful for all that everyone has done.
Camp Cashy
Since Salt Lake City is 500 miles from our home in Missoula we brought down the family camp trailer and camped out at Primary Children’s Hospital for 9 months. We were very fortunate to have it considering some families sleep on the floor and in the waiting rooms. It was nice to get out of the hospital and take a break. We called it Camp Cashy and it was our piece of Montana in Utah.
The Rock
Big Brother Colten is the Rock of our family and played a great roll in this battle. Colten can make anyone smile and loves flirting with nurses, so I guess you could say he was in his element at Primary Children’s. Kalli and I would switch each day and one of us would take Colten and go swimming or just hang out. Colten made us keep our spirits up and stay positive.
Malanca recounts the Hyde family’s ordeal: