In the small town of Gadsden, Alabama, there lives a boy whose courage could outshine even the brightest comic book heroes. His name is Kolten Jones, and he just turned six twelve days ago. While most children his age dream of being superheroes, Kolten already is one — a real-life Spiderman in the making. Soon, he’ll even have his very own Spiderman wheelchair, but truth be told, he has already proven to possess more strength and bravery than any superhero ever drawn on paper.
Kolten’s incredible story began last December, when doctors gave him a title no parent ever wants to hear — “The sickest kid in Alabama.” What started as his mother noticing something strange about her son’s walk quickly turned into every parent’s nightmare. The diagnosis came: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Treatment began immediately — a long and painful two-and-a-half-year battle with chemotherapy.
But that was only the beginning.
Soon after chemo started, Kolten developed Viridans Strep, an infection that attacked his heart and lungs. The infection was so severe that Kolten “coded” three times in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. His small body was connected to 34 machines, keeping him alive. He was placed on a ventilator and faced kidney failure. When his body couldn’t fight anymore, doctors placed him on life support through an ECMO machine — his only chance of survival.
Then came another blow. Kolten suffered a stroke on the left side of his brain, leaving him unable to move his right arm and leg. It was heartbreaking. Even the doctors who had seen everything in their careers said Kolten was the sickest child in the entire state.
But superheroes don’t give up. And neither did Kolten.
Through every terrifying night and every painful procedure, Kolten showed a will to live that stunned everyone around him. His mother, Whitney, became his constant companion, his biggest cheerleader, and his emotional anchor. She sent updates, always filled with a mixture of fear and hope — the emotions only a mother of a fighter could know.
In October, Whitney shared how their month had been a rollercoaster. On October 9th, Kolten was hospitalized due to a dangerously high heart rate. No one knew why. Just a few days later, on October 13th, Kolten had a seizure in the clinic — something Whitney had never witnessed before. “It was so scary,” she wrote. “We were admitted, and Kolten was started on seizure medication. We were scheduled for an MRI on the 15th, but due to a machine issue, it got delayed to the next day — his birthday.”
On October 16th, instead of balloons and playgrounds, Kolten celebrated his sixth birthday in the hospital. But that didn’t stop the joy. He was surrounded by family, friends, cupcakes, and a giant cake. For a few shining hours, he wasn’t a patient — he was just a happy kid turning six.
And there’s more to look forward to — his custom Spiderman wheelchair is being built by the incredible team at Children’s Rehab Service in Gadsden, led by Mrs. Hailey Jenkins, who Whitney describes as a blessing. “We don’t know when the chair will be ready,” Whitney says, “but for now, our wagon has been getting us by.”
Kolten’s battle continues. He’s currently in Maintenance Phase 2 of his chemo. Every night, he takes one dose of medication, and every Monday brings another round — sometimes even a lumbar puncture. He also sees a neurologist and an endocrinologist as part of his recovery journey. It’s a long road, filled with uncertainty, but Kolten’s spirit remains unshakable.
Whitney says proudly, “Our boy is getting so much stronger every day. Kolten can now get up on his hands and knees and crawl all over our bed. It’s such an improvement — though we never know when setbacks may come.”
Those words sum up the journey of a true warrior. Kolten may no longer hold the title of “the sickest kid in Alabama,” but his challenges are far from over. Still, with every new battle, he fights back harder. With every fall, he finds a way to rise again. His story is one of hope, faith, and unstoppable courage — a living reminder that heroes come in all sizes.
So yes, I’m thinking this kid might just be a superhero — not the kind who swings from buildings or wears a mask, but the kind who teaches the world what strength really looks like.
And if Spiderman himself could see Kolten now, he’d surely say the same thing:
“With great power comes great responsibility.”
Kolten has taken that power — the power of hope — and shown us all how to never give up.
If you’d like to send some love or encouragement, Kolten would be thrilled to hear from you. After all, every superhero deserves a little cheering section.
