Community rallies around young family facing cancer and childbirth
By Mike Anderson
Click here for updates on this story
LOGAN, Utah (KSL, KSL TV) — A young Logan couple is facing unimaginable challenges, but they’re not doing it alone. Friends, neighbors, and local businesses are coming together to support Hunter and Tyson Baker as they prepare to welcome their first child while also battling stage four cancer.
Hunter Baker was first diagnosed with a soft tissue sarcoma in 2023. After undergoing radiation and surgery, she lost her right leg but eventually returned to an active lifestyle; skiing, running, and surfing.LOGAN, Utah — A young Logan couple is facing unimaginable challenges, but they’re not doing it alone. Friends, neighbors, and local businesses are coming together to support Hunter and Tyson Baker as they prepare to welcome their first child while also battling stage four cancer.
Hunter Baker was first diagnosed with a soft tissue sarcoma in 2023. After undergoing radiation and surgery, she lost her right leg but eventually returned to an active lifestyle; skiing, running, and surfing.
“She’s tough. As tough as they come,” said her husband Tyson.
Time to start a family Just as life seemed to be settling down, the Bakers decided it was time to start a family. But only six days after learning she was pregnant, Hunter’s lung collapsed. The cancer had returned, this time in her lungs and chest wall.
The couple initially focused on making it to 32 weeks gestation to safely deliver their baby boy. Reaching that only days ago, they’re now pushing for longer.
“We’re just keeping baby boy in as long as we can,” Hunter said. “I’ve done better on chemo than they expected, and he’s done better. So we’re shooting for 38 weeks, but that could change.”
Fundraiser To help the Bakers during this difficult time, Kutting Edge Salon in Logan, at 155 E. 1400 N., is hosting a fundraiser on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thirty stylists are volunteering their time, with all proceeds going directly to the family. There will also be raffles and an online fundraiser available for people who want to donate.
“We all love Hunter,” said Stacy Bauman, who helped organize the event. “She was a receptionist for us, and she’s just an amazing human.”
Bauman says she’s received an outpouring from small businesses wanting to offer support, including one from Florida.
“We’re so blessed to have such amazing people around us,” Tyson said. “Yeah, it means the world,” Hunter said.
Slowing the growth Once the Baker’s baby boy is delivered, Hunter plans to undergo more aggressive forms of chemotherapy than she could not do while pregnant.
“They’re telling me it can’t be beat or cured, but we could potentially stop the growth,” Hunter said. “It could be months, weeks, could be years. So the whole goal of treatment is just to slow the growth long enough to give me as much time with these two as possible.”
At the same time, she’s not content in believing her days are limited. A tattoo on Hunter’s left forearm reads “hold onto hope” — a message she’s living by every day. She got it along with a close friend who was also diagnosed with cancer.
“There’s crazy miracle stories out there, and I plan to be one of them,” Hunter said.
This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.