MONROE – Nurses who treated Aidan King at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital in New York City knew if they asked him his pain level on a scale of one-10 and he said “three” it was more like seven.
It was a testament to King’s strength, resiliency and courage. According to his mother, Deena, her beloved son also downplayed his discomfort because he never wanted anyone to worry about him.
Sadly, Aidan King recently lost his battle to metastasized acral melanoma, a rare form of cancer. He was just 21 years old. The Monroe community had rallied around King and his family during his two-plus year fight with the disease.
“Even when he was battling cancer, he didn’t want anyone worrying about him,” Mrs. King said. “I was better for knowing Aidan. He made my life better and made me a better person. Aidan was just such a special person. I always knew he had a big heart and was extremely kind. I am hearing more stories about the selfless and special person that he was.”
Along with his mother, Aidan, a former Monroe-Woodbury football player, is survived by his father, Brendan, his brother Brody, and his sister Molly, along with many other family members and friends. Since Aidan’s passing, those offering their condolences have shared many stories about his big heart.
When he was 9, Aidan went trick-or-treating for his friend, Danny Jankowski, who could not because he broke his femur playing Pop Warner football. There was a mother that told Deena King that Aidan was the first person to welcome her daughter, a new student, at Middle School. Another mother shared with King that Aidan helped her son during a very tough time in his life.
During his cancer battle, Aidan has remained upbeat and positive, flashing his signature smile, while inspiring those around with his “Aidan Attitude.”
“Aidan was a wonderful young man and always very positive,” family friend Diane Jankowski said. “Even when he was fighting cancer, he was never like why me? He waged some battle, and we were hoping for a different outcome. But Aidan was a courageous fighter, and we will always remember him.”
