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Family hopes to aid others with children fighting illness

Kade Dixon lost his battle with pulmonary hypertension after only 13 months of life, but his birthday, resolve and spirit will be celebrated today in Clovis — while also paying it forward to aid other families of children fighting battles.

The Team Kade birthday celebration is slated from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Java Loft, featuring live music, pictures with Clovis Police Department officers, face painting, a children’s book drive and raffle prizes.

“My son was born 1 pound, 10 ounces and fought to live,” said Kade’s mother, Clovis resident Anette Dixon, while offering reflections of Kade, who would have been 2 today. “During the course of his time with us, we were in hospitals in Clovis, Lubbock, Dallas and Houston. While there, we experienced a tremendous outpouring of community support. When Kade was out of the hospital, we visited children who were battling various illnesses and Kade really enjoyed doing that as well.”

Birthday celebration organizers said things will kick off with a 6 p.m. balloon release and during the course of the evening attendees will be able to make donations to help children in need and contribute infant garments that will benefit the University Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Lubbock.

“During the course of Kade’s life we donated a lot of baby items to the NICU,” said Dixon, who added Kade was selected as the Clovis Police Department’s first honorary K-9 officer. “They have since honored Kade by naming area that houses the children’s attire as Kade’s Closet, so we will be accepting new baby blankets, beanies, mittens and socks for children in need.”

Dixon said the bonds her family has forged with supporters throughout Kade’s life lends to a natural progression of reaching out to others.

“It was truly a blessing,” she said regarding the wide ranging support system. “When you’re in that situation with a child in the hospital, you don’t know if you’re going to leave with your child from trip to trip. We were able to make some amazing connections. People that didn’t know us helped along the way, as we went about finding ways to help our child. We wanted to have something like this in our community, where people come together as one — especially with everything else going on in our world.”

 
 
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