“We were just devastated. We never expected to get this news,” shared Debbie McKinney as she reflected on her son Evan’s diagnosis. At age 16, Evan began holding less and less food in his stomach.
What began as a dull ache, intensified into nonstop, severe stomach pain that went on for about two weeks. Debbie scheduled an appointment with Evan’s pediatrician hoping for a minor issue that could be resolved with simple treatment. After being examined, Evan’s doctor noticed a large mass in his abdomen and recommended that he should be taken to the AdventHealth for Children.
Evan was diagnosed with stage 4 rhabdomyosarcoma and began chemotherapy on day ten of his hospital stay. He spent over 100 days (about three and a half months) in our Children's hospital. Evan went through rigorous chemotherapy, taking on 15 big treatments, 30 small treatments, and 60 days of radiation.
Evan received care from the Child Life Specialist team, who understood the value of providing whole person care. Thanks to the team, Evan was able to attend game nights, participate in music therapy, and even make lasting friendships with other patients during his time in the hospital. “I’m glad I brought him to AdventHealth. I’m happy with the treatment,” shared Debbie as she reflected on her decision to take Evan to AdventHealth for Children.
Though AdventHealth improves the quality of life for our cancer patients, finding a cure for cancer is what we are striving for. Clinical trials provide access to some of the most advanced treatment options while research studies help us find new ways to prevent and detect cancer and improve the quality of life for cancer patients.
