Cayden Luis Oquendo

Cayden Luis Oquendo, 12 years old, died Sunday May 7th, 2023. Cayden was born June 22nd, 2010 in Manning SC. A private memorial at Belk Funeral Home will be held at 3pm, Friday, May 19th,2023 and you can reach out to family members for the information. He is survived by his parents of the home, Brandi Jones and his bonus father Jereld Poole; father, Fernando Oquendo; grandmothers Angela Watts, Ginger Jones, and Brenda Oquendo, many aunts, uncles, special cousins, and friends. He was preceded in death by his sister Aleigha Oquendo who also had SMA Type 1, best-friend Garrison Murph who had SMA type 1, and Grandfather Mike Jones. Brandi and Jereld want to thank everyone who has been involved in the care of Cayden. Special thanks to the Miracle League of Florence, SC for allowing Cayden to be the ball player he was, as well as, holding special events so he could go out and be the kid he was regardless of his diagnosis. For the last 12+ years, Brandi has been the example of strength, courage, determination, and patience. She was his sole caretaker day in and out. Not allowing his diagnosis to slow Cayden down anytime an event came up, a ball game, playing on a playground, loading the van up to go to the beach, the movie trips, taking Cayden to the lake, Brandi made sure to have Cayden present. Brandi you were given Cayden and Aleigha, no one else but you. You were who they needed. Waking up numerous times all throughout the night when a machine was alarming, giving medications around the clock, turning them, never leaving their side in a hospital stay, and teaching numerous people what true strength is. Cayden will be missed here on earth, but we take peace in knowing he is whole, and we will see him again one day.

(Obituary submitted by family)