(wlbz2.com) – Zach Gagnon was a 13-year-old boy who seemed at his happiest behind the wheel of an ATV, but over the last several months he spent a lot of time, driving hundreds of miles each week to hospitals for treatment for Ewing Sarcoma, a childhood cancer that Zach had already fought once before.
The journey from their Home in Caribou to Cancer Care in Brewer was about 175 miles. That was the closest pediatric oncology treatment center to where they lived. When we first met them in May they were dreading the treatments but hopeful they would save Zach’s life.
“Chemotherapy is the most traumatic thing for parents to witness their child going through you cannot describe it in words it’s indescribable pain worry here anxiety feelings of helplessness you’re at the mercy of the oncology world,” explained Zach’s mom, Peggy Michaud.
Because Zach’s second diagnosis was so grim and because the chemo was taking a toll on him, Peggy also put Zach into alternative treatments to lessen the symptoms from the chemotherapy and perhaps slow the cancer. They hit the road again, visiting Dr. Sean McCloy in Portland 300 miles from home where Zach received intravenous injections of high dose vitamin c.
“It gives me a more positive outlook instead of thinking oh I’m going to be sick today it’s more like oh I’m going to have more energy today and be able to go walking or going to eat out or doing anything active,” Zach told us during a treatment session in June.
The treatments and the travel did take a toll on the family budget. Peggy is a single mother who had to take leave from work to care for Zach. The nights in hotel rooms and eating out at restaurants added up. And Insurance wouldn’t cover the high dose vitamin c injections because it isn’t approved as a cancer treatment. Dr. McCloy says the problem is there isn’t enough funding and research.