Cole Alexander Slaiding, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer on December 14, 2022, losing his life just six (6) short weeks later on January 30, 2023. He was just four (4) years old.The whirlwind diagnosis and journey Cole and his close-knit family went through was one that no family should ever have to experience. The small local community the Slaiding family is a part of rallied to support the family in so many ways. From daily hot meals being delivered, to gifts and goodies and providing financial and emotional support, our community stood by us at time when nothing made sense. The immense outpouring of love and support was nothing short of amazing. We found the support offered by those close and afar, a source of comfort in an otherwise scary and tumultuous time. The good we saw and felt in an awful situation is one of the key concepts that The Strong and Brave Foundation is built on.Cole lived a life filled with love, fun and activities. He ran through life never a stone's throw away from his mother, finding the best in each day. He was often found smelling the beautiful flowers in his mother's garden, a powerful and symbolic gesture. "Stop and smell the flowers" is a saying we have all heard; a phrase representative of slowing down in life and really being a part of it, in the present moment.With that sentiment in mind, taking one moment, one step at a time, is what continues to get us through each day.Our hope is to provide a source of comfort and peace to other families that find themselves in front of a childhood cancer diagnosis.Whatever it is our families require, we will do our best to provide, hoping to givethem a sense of peace so they can be fully present with their child.