The mom of 3-year-old "K.O." Kayden Chaffin, of Noble, has a simple request: Send Christmas cards.
The Oklahoman interviewed Kayden's mom Amanda Chaffin, 25, who talked about her son's love of nature, bright colors and watching drag cars race. She also explained that Kayden has a rare disease.
Kayden Chaffin suffers from spinal muscular atrophy type I, also called Werdnig-Hoffmann disease. According to the organization Cure SMA, the disease causes physical challenges like muscle weakness and difficulty coughing and swallowing, but mental faculties remain sharp.
Kayden Owen Chaffin gained the name "K.O." because he is a fighter, said his mom.
Kayden Chaffin takes a picture at his home in Noble, Okla., Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016. Chaffin has spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic illness and his family collects Christmas cards for him. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
<figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-a697e2d4d2c2ce0a84ff0222b6ae82b4.jpg" alt="Photo - Kayden Chaffin takes a picture at his home in Noble, Okla., Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016. Chaffin has spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic illness and his family collects Christmas cards for him. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman" title="Kayden Chaffin takes a picture at his home in Noble, Okla., Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016. Chaffin has spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic illness and his family collects Christmas cards for him. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman"><figcaption>Kayden Chaffin takes a picture at his home in Noble, Okla., Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016. Chaffin has spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic illness and his family collects Christmas cards for him. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-4d45f74d89ef160ac9e7d119c744b7de.jpg" alt="Photo - **FILE** A Feb. 27, 2005 file photo shows talk show host Oprah Winfrey, right, and actress Halle Berry arriving for the 77th Academy Awards in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File) ORG XMIT: CX106" title="**FILE** A Feb. 27, 2005 file photo shows talk show host Oprah Winfrey, right, and actress Halle Berry arriving for the 77th Academy Awards in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File) ORG XMIT: CX106"><figcaption>**FILE** A Feb. 27, 2005 file photo shows talk show host Oprah Winfrey, right, and actress Halle Berry arriving for the 77th Academy Awards in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File) ORG XMIT: CX106</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-4d5f2d9a757001504370a34a1d272f1b.jpg" alt="Photo - **FILE** A Sept. 21, 2008 file photo shows Oprah Winfrey opening the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File) ORG XMIT: CX109" title="**FILE** A Sept. 21, 2008 file photo shows Oprah Winfrey opening the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File) ORG XMIT: CX109"><figcaption>**FILE** A Sept. 21, 2008 file photo shows Oprah Winfrey opening the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File) ORG XMIT: CX109</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-770ee15ef257cd69231cdeb11904c628.jpg" alt="Photo - Amanda Chaffin sits with her son Kayden at their home in Noble, Okla., Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016. Chaffin has spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic illness and his family collects Christmas cards for him. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman" title="Amanda Chaffin sits with her son Kayden at their home in Noble, Okla., Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016. Chaffin has spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic illness and his family collects Christmas cards for him. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman"><figcaption>Amanda Chaffin sits with her son Kayden at their home in Noble, Okla., Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016. Chaffin has spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic illness and his family collects Christmas cards for him. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-c9fb9af77ece6dea489d93c2416c82d9.jpg" alt="Photo - Kayden Chaffin takes a picture at his home in Noble, Okla., Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016. Chaffin has spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic illness and his family collects Christmas cards for him. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman" title="Kayden Chaffin takes a picture at his home in Noble, Okla., Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016. Chaffin has spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic illness and his family collects Christmas cards for him. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman"><figcaption>Kayden Chaffin takes a picture at his home in Noble, Okla., Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016. Chaffin has spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic illness and his family collects Christmas cards for him. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-82019dda3862dd46e4577865a5fc0034.jpg" alt="Photo - Kayden Chaffin takes a picture at his home in Noble, Okla., Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016. Chaffin has spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic illness and his family collects Christmas cards for him. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman" title="Kayden Chaffin takes a picture at his home in Noble, Okla., Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016. Chaffin has spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic illness and his family collects Christmas cards for him. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman"><figcaption>Kayden Chaffin takes a picture at his home in Noble, Okla., Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016. Chaffin has spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic illness and his family collects Christmas cards for him. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-d8cc459e4361efae7a4ba9102da9903a.jpg" alt="Photo - Kayden Chaffin takes a picture at his home in Noble, Okla., Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016. Chaffin has spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic illness and his family collects Christmas cards for him. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman" title="Kayden Chaffin takes a picture at his home in Noble, Okla., Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016. Chaffin has spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic illness and his family collects Christmas cards for him. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman"><figcaption>Kayden Chaffin takes a picture at his home in Noble, Okla., Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016. Chaffin has spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic illness and his family collects Christmas cards for him. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-288d205e6080f4649292b9effdaf0295.jpg" alt="Photo - This photo provided by Spin Master shows a Spin Master Hatchimal. Searching for the seasonâs hot holiday toys doesnât have to end in disappointment. With the help of technology, some phone calls and shoe leather, hard-to-find holiday toys such as Hatchimals and NES Classic donât have to remain elusive. (Spin Master via AP)" title="This photo provided by Spin Master shows a Spin Master Hatchimal. Searching for the seasonâs hot holiday toys doesnât have to end in disappointment. With the help of technology, some phone calls and shoe leather, hard-to-find holiday toys such as Hatchimals and NES Classic donât have to remain elusive. (Spin Master via AP)"><figcaption>This photo provided by Spin Master shows a Spin Master Hatchimal. Searching for the seasonâs hot holiday toys doesnât have to end in disappointment. With the help of technology, some phone calls and shoe leather, hard-to-find holiday toys such as Hatchimals and NES Classic donât have to remain elusive. (Spin Master via AP)</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-bd585f9fc2e2d6e520a1cdef39899c0a.jpg" alt="Photo - In this photo provided by Spin Master, a Spin Master Hatchimal is demonstrated. Searching for the seasonâs hot holiday toys doesnât have to end in disappointment. With the help of technology, some phone calls and shoe leather, hard-to-find holiday toys such as Hatchimals and NES Classic donât have to remain elusive. (Spin Master via AP)" title="In this photo provided by Spin Master, a Spin Master Hatchimal is demonstrated. Searching for the seasonâs hot holiday toys doesnât have to end in disappointment. With the help of technology, some phone calls and shoe leather, hard-to-find holiday toys such as Hatchimals and NES Classic donât have to remain elusive. (Spin Master via AP)"><figcaption>In this photo provided by Spin Master, a Spin Master Hatchimal is demonstrated. Searching for the seasonâs hot holiday toys doesnât have to end in disappointment. With the help of technology, some phone calls and shoe leather, hard-to-find holiday toys such as Hatchimals and NES Classic donât have to remain elusive. (Spin Master via AP)</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-d99ea699c844a7b8a1cb812ad88e0c9b.jpg" alt="Photo - OU head coach Bob Stoops, right, hugs defensive coordinator Mike Stoops after the Bedlam college football game between the Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State Cowboys (OSU) at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016. OU won 38-20. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman" title="OU head coach Bob Stoops, right, hugs defensive coordinator Mike Stoops after the Bedlam college football game between the Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State Cowboys (OSU) at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016. OU won 38-20. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman"><figcaption>OU head coach Bob Stoops, right, hugs defensive coordinator Mike Stoops after the Bedlam college football game between the Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State Cowboys (OSU) at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016. OU won 38-20. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman</figcaption></figure>
Juliana Keeping
Juliana Keeping is on the enterprise reporting team for The Oklahoman and NewsOK.com.
Keeping joined the staff of The Oklahoman in 2012. Prior to that time, she worked in the Chicago media at the SouthtownStar, winning a Peter Lisagor Award...
Read more ›
