GAVIN'S STORY OF A SECOND OPINION

How Cancer Teamwork Response Guided This Journey

At CTR, we witness many journeys of courage and resilience. Gavin's story is one that profoundly impacted us—a young warrior who faced leukemia and then a devastating diagnosis of stage 4 sarcoma. As his parents navigated the heart-wrenching news that traditional treatments had reached their limit, they turned to CTR for a lifeline. Through our dedicated efforts, we connected Gavin's family with renowned specialists at UCLA, facilitating a crucial second opinion that sparked newfound hope. Today, Gavin stands as a testament to the life-saving impact of timely intervention—a journey that exemplifies CTR's mission to transform despair into triumph for young cancer warriors and their families.

CTR Patient Story From the Stockwells

Our son Gavin started his fight with cancer at just 10 years old. He was being treated for leukemia at a local hospital when we discovered a second cancer: sarcoma. Upon discovering the sarcoma, he was already stage 4 metastatic with extensive widespread disease. We heard something no parent should ever have to hear, “I’m sorry, there’s nothing more we can do.”  It felt like our whole world was crumbling, and we were desperate for help and hope. A friend pointed me to Candy and the services she offers through Cancer Teamwork Response, and I am beyond thankful she did. When I spoke with Candy, it felt like a weight had been lifted; that panic about what to do next was alleviated, and she encouraged us not to give up hope. She suggested a 2nd opinion with a renowned pediatric oncologist at UCLA, a top-ranked national research hospital. I knew if there was any chance for my son, we needed the best of the best. That 2nd opinion was all arranged for us within 4 days, and we drove to UCLA the same day we were discharged. It was an appointment that changed our lives when the Oncologist gave us hope, and so we made the decision to transfer hospitals. That was 14 months ago, and today, my son is thriving. It brings me to tears just writing this because our story could have turned out so differently. Our personal experience shows how instrumental CTR's services are, and, not to sound dramatic, it truly can be the difference between life and death. 

Candy took us by the hand, made the connections to the experts, had the time to help when there was nowhere else to turn, and stuck with us every step of the way. There is a huge void in our healthcare system, and we have found no other organization that fills this void as Cancer Teamwork Response does. We are so pleased to learn that she has developed dedicated youth services that will offer 100s of families the opportunities that were provided to us. 

Thank you to Cancer Teamwork Response for your commitment to our youth with cancer and their families. So many lives are going to be helped!

We are forever grateful you do what you do ❤️

Chris and Sonya Stockwell

Cancer Teamwork Response has aligned with Teen Cancer America, a wonderful international organization that works with the best pediatric hospitals for expert care. It often takes over 60 days for a pediatric patient to receive a diagnosis of cancer, and often, time is of the essence. With a combined mission to decrease time-to-diagnosis, thereby increasing the potential of positive outcomes, we think CTR youth services need to be supported in all ways.

I hope this patient story illustrates the crucial role Cancer Teamwork Response (CTR) plays in the lives of families battling pediatric cancer. When your child is in the fight of their life, having CTR by your side can transform the impossible into the achievable. We invite you to join CTR in their mission to support young cancer warriors and their families. Your support can make all the difference. Together, we can bring hope and strength to those who need it most.

Candy Hammeras and CTR, alongside the Stockwell family, wish to personally thank UCLA Health nursing and staff for their care of Gavin while going through treatment and Dr. Noah Federman for his renowned expertise in pediatric sarcoma.

WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER TO PUT THE PATIENT FIRST, WE ALL WIN. 

Cancer Teamwork Response—Helping Patients Be More Prepared.