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LAPLACE — Those who know Hayden Cashio describe him as a kind-hearted young man who is always smiling and ready to help anyone in need. Now, the 2018 Riverside Academy graduate needs support from the community as he undergoes surgery to remove a tumor very close to the primary language area of his brain.

Surgery is scheduled for Monday at MD Anderson in Houston, Texas. A fundraiser dinner will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27 to support initial medical and travel expenses for Hayden’s care. Pre-orders are highly encouraged.

Dinner plates are $10 and include smoked chicken leg quarters, dirty rice, corn and bread. Sweets and drinks will also be available for sale. All dinners must be picked up from the VFW Hall at 205 W. Fifth Street in LaPlace.

Shawn Brady and Wesley “Sarge” Mitchell are handling the cooking for the fundraiser.

For pre-orders or questions, please contact Dawn Lucia (504-258-3296; dawnlucia@gmail.com) or Alicia Matthews (504-352-0142; aliciadsells@yahoo.com).

Hayden is the son of Angie Cashio LeSaicherre and Ryan and Heidi Cashio. Ryan Cashio is the owner of The Cajun Grill & Catering. Hayden’s mother, Angie, recently lost her husband to cancer.

Hayden is a hardworking student attending River Parishes Community College, and family friend Alicia Matthews said missing school has been one of his top concerns since he found out about the brain tumor earlier this month.

When Hayden complained of having headaches, he and his family never dreamed it was an indication of such a serious problem. As symptoms progressed over the past month, it became clear something was wrong.

The tumor was discovered during a CAT scan at an emergency room visit to St. James Parish hospital on Feb. 6. Hayden was transferred to Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge for more testing before he was referred to MD Anderson.

Hayden underwent numerous tests throughout the last two weeks. Meanwhile, surgeons are finalizing a plan to safely remove the tumor on Monday. Doctors are still uncertain as to the exact type of tumor it is but suspect it is a primary central nervous system tumor. The plan is to remove as much of it as possible through surgery, thereby stopping it from spreading to other parts of the body via spinal fluid.

“Right now, they are formulating a plan to ensure the best route to go with the least chance of long-term effects,” Hayden’s parents said in a recent statement to family and friends.

The family asked for continued prayers for healing.

Matthews said the dinner fundraiser is the first step to lessening the burden of medical and travel expenses for Hayden’s care.

“The dinner fundraiser was an initial reaction,” Matthews said. “Your heart speaks, and you do. I’m sure, in the future, there are going to be additional needs. We don’t know what those needs are yet. We’re just trying to support the family in the best way that we can.”

Donations can be directed to Lucia (504-258-3296; dawnlucia@gmail.com) or Matthews (504-352-0142; aliciadsells@yahoo.com).