CROWLEY, La. (KLFY) -- An Iota teen opened a coffeeshop in Crowley to help families with children at St. Jude Children's Hospital. He has been going to St. Jude himself for the past four years.

Hayden Ruffner was diagnosed with bone cancer when he was 15 years old.

"You hear the word cancer, and you know, you usually think of bad things when you think about cancer," Ruffner said. "That was just my whole attitude- I'm going to beat this."

With no treatments for his bone cancer, Ruffner's gone through multiple unsuccessful treatments for other types of cancer.

His mom, Nicole Hayes, said for his most recent treatment, they were given four options of treatment for other types of cancer.

"They said, 'This is it. There's no other choice for you,'" Hayes said. "Pick one of these and let's try it."

Hayden's mom said they were going through treatment options on their drive home from St. Jude Children's Hospital.

"We were getting really angry that this is what was left because it had absolutely nothing to do with bone cancer or osteosarcoma," Hayes said. "So we just picked the one where he wasn't in the hospital because his goal, is not only Hayden's corner, but his personal goal is to get a four-year degree."

Hayden completed high school at St. Jude and is currently a sophomore at McNeese studying marketing.

While balancing college and cancer treatments, Hayden also works at Hayden's Corner, the coffeeshop his family started in July to raise awareness for osteosarcoma and help other families at St. Jude. All profits to directly to other families.

"Our goal was to make sure that no family had to go through what we did," Hayes said. "We didn't have enough food or money. People out of nowhere donate, when you least expect it and when you most need it, and we wanted to do that for other families."

To help other families, Hayden offers coffee, ice cream and the reminder that you only live once.

"From the day you're born to the day you die; you only get those opportunities," Ruffner said. "Knowing that you don't know the last time you're ever going to see them, it really puts a different perspective on how I live my life."

When News 10 asked Hayden's mom if she could go back to when Hayden was first diagnosed and give him advice on how to handle it, she said there would be nothing to tell him because he handles it so well.

"He literally has kept this optimistic, positive demeanor. He's got such great fortitude," she said. "I don't think he could have done it any differently."

To support Hayden and other St. Jude families, visit Hayden's Corner, located on the corner N. Parkerson Ave. and SE Court Circle in Downtown Crowley.

Latest News