High School Basketball Player, 17, Dies After Bone Cancer Diagnosis and Arm Amputation
“He’s a hero, in every sense of the word,” Wilson County Schools wrote of Lebanon High School student-athlete Jayden Bailey in a tribute
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Jayden Bailey. Credit :
Gofundme
NEED TO KNOW
Jayden Bailey, a student-athlete at Lebanon High School in Tennessee, died of cancer on Feb. 19 at age 17
Bailey was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a bone cancer, several years ago, and had his left arm amputated in August
“He remained an inspirational [basketball] team member for the LHS Blue Devils till the very end, but his legacy will last forever,” Wilson County Schools wrote in a tribute
A beloved high school student in Tennessee has died of cancer.
Jayden Bailey, a 17-year-old student and athlete at Lebanon High School, died on Thursday, Feb. 19, after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a bone cancer, several years ago.
“He captured and captivated the hearts of so many both locally and nationally while he battled his cancer diagnosis throughout the past several years,” Wilson County Schools wrote in a Facebook tribute to Bailey on Friday, Feb. 20. “He chose to live to the fullest and continued to lean on life’s joys while he went through many treatments and operations.”
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Jayden Bailey playing basketball in 2024.
Jayden Bailey/Facebook
The school district stated that basketball was one of Bailey’s “biggest joys.”
“He remained an inspirational team member for the LHS Blue Devils till the very end, but his legacy will last forever,” the tribute continued.
“He’s a hero, in every sense of the word. The community rallied around him and cheered him on each day. He will always live in our hearts, for the impacts he made and the extremely high standards of character he set. Internally, he was such a fierce fighter of his disease, but outwardly, he poured with love and support for everyone he encountered,” the school district added. “He indeed made this world a better place.”
A GoFundMe page was created in July 2022 to support Bailey and his family. An update in September 2023 stated that his cancer “metastasized to his lungs” and that he would undergo six weeks of chemotherapy.
Nearly two years later, Bailey had his left arm amputated in August 2025, according to a YouTube video by the school district. The amputation didn’t keep him from playing basketball. “It’s wild to think that I shoot better now than I ever did with both arms,” he said in the video.
In October 2025, per Wilson County Schools, hospice was “advised as guidance for Jayden” after the cancer spread to his stomach and lungs.
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Lebanon High School in Tennessee.
Google Maps
Mayo Clinic states that osteosarcoma is a type of cancer that affects the cells that form bones. The cancer is most commonly found in the bones of the legs and arms.
Days before he died, Lebanon declared Feb. 17 as Jayden Bailey Day.
“Last night, Mayor Bell proclaimed February 17 as Jayden Bailey Day in Lebanon. Today, we recognize and celebrate Jayden’s courage, resilience, and strength as he continues his battle against bone cancer,” the Lebanon Police Department wrote in a Feb. 18 X post. “We stand side by side with our community, showing our support and sending prayers to Jayden as he bravely continues his battle.”
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On Feb. 20, police wrote in another X post, “Please keep Jayden’s family, teammates, friends, teachers, and everyone affected by his passing in your thoughts and prayers. May his strength and resilience be a lasting source of inspiration, and may his memory continue to unite and uplift our community.”
Bailey was also fondly remembered by journalist Jill Jelnick, who shared of photo of herself with the teen on Instagram.
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“No words can ever describe the impact that Jayden Bailey had on the Lebanon community, myself included,” she wrote. “He was only 17, but when he walked into the room his light shined brighter than any young man I have ever met in my life. Thank you for all that you gave — this world is a better place because of you.”
Aside from the 2022 GoFundMe, which has raised over $24,000, another GoFundMe set up by Bailey’s friends has raised another $9,000, so far.
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