Over 54 weeks of chemo at 16 years old...
Donation protected
My dear friend, Justin and his wife Stacy Gaskins, are facing a challenge. In August of this past year (2018), Payton was a normal teenager starting his sophomore year of high school. He was eager to get his driver’s license and navigate his way through tough AP and Honors classes. Payton’s goal was to fulfill his lifelong dream of joining the military and eventually become a veterinarian. He has an undeniable passion and love for animals.
All of these dreams would get put on hold when a lump appeared on Payton’s forearm that proceeded to grow in size. In February 2019, they met with a general surgeon, Dr. Parker, in their hometown of Valdosta, GA. What seemed like a simple cyst to remove turned into their worst nightmare. At Payton’s initial consult, lymph node swelling was detected which immediately warranted further testing. Dr. Parker ordered CT scans of his neck and chest along with an MRI of the main growth on his forearm. Just 10 days after they thought they were going in for a simple procedure, they were told their son had soft tissue sarcoma. They were hurriedly referred to UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville for a needle biopsy. By March, their vivacious, happy, and loving teenager was now in the fight for his life. The results confirmed their worst fears. It was indeed cancer. On March 8th, they were given a name for this dreaded diagnosis Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma.
In the preceding days, results filtered in and they were given the worst news any parent could ever bear to hear. Payton was diagnosed with a very aggressive, Stage 4 high-risk sarcoma. The oncologist informed them that he would undergo 54 weeks of chemotherapy along with radiation and surgery. Their entire family was completely devastated. There was only one thing left to do and that was to fight for their son’s life in every way possible.
Justin and Stacy need to be able to keep their focus on the health of Payton and their family not on mounting bills. Please give what you can to give this beautiful family a little piece of mind.
All of these dreams would get put on hold when a lump appeared on Payton’s forearm that proceeded to grow in size. In February 2019, they met with a general surgeon, Dr. Parker, in their hometown of Valdosta, GA. What seemed like a simple cyst to remove turned into their worst nightmare. At Payton’s initial consult, lymph node swelling was detected which immediately warranted further testing. Dr. Parker ordered CT scans of his neck and chest along with an MRI of the main growth on his forearm. Just 10 days after they thought they were going in for a simple procedure, they were told their son had soft tissue sarcoma. They were hurriedly referred to UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville for a needle biopsy. By March, their vivacious, happy, and loving teenager was now in the fight for his life. The results confirmed their worst fears. It was indeed cancer. On March 8th, they were given a name for this dreaded diagnosis Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma.
In the preceding days, results filtered in and they were given the worst news any parent could ever bear to hear. Payton was diagnosed with a very aggressive, Stage 4 high-risk sarcoma. The oncologist informed them that he would undergo 54 weeks of chemotherapy along with radiation and surgery. Their entire family was completely devastated. There was only one thing left to do and that was to fight for their son’s life in every way possible.
Justin and Stacy need to be able to keep their focus on the health of Payton and their family not on mounting bills. Please give what you can to give this beautiful family a little piece of mind.