Gemma & Melissa Scanlon

Last year, a little girl named Gemma Scanlon was diagnosed with Wilms tumor (a pediatric kidney cancer) on her 3^rd birthday.  Instead of blowing out candles, the Scanlon’s family was faced with their daughter having cancer.  

Gemma received amazing care at Levine Children’s Hospital.  Dr. Pope and her team took care of their family with compassion and made a very difficult time so much easier.  The Scanlon’s were very grateful that their daughter’s cancer responded well to treatment, and just over one year they are seeing clear CT scans.

“I know the reason we have a great treatment protocol is because someone else raised money, did clinical trials and built facilities because the funding is sadly very limited.  It’s our turn to help the families that don’t have good options yet.  The ISF MIBG Ambassador program is designed to do just that.” 

Melissa is one of our MIBG Ambassadors through the Isabella Santos Foundation, fundraising to help make a difference. She is committed to help raise $5,000, knowing that it will help other families who are battling pediatric cancers right here in Charlotte.

“You can literally see the MIBG room being built uptown.  Kids in the Carolinas battling cancer will have better options for treatment here at home and that is awesome.”

MIBG Ambassador

Levine Children’s Hospital will now be 1 of 20 hospitals (and the first in the region) to have a MIBG Treatment room in the U.S.  The two-room MIBG suite, which will include a lead-lined patient room and an anteroom for parents and caregivers, will provide targeted radiation to pediatric neuroblastoma patients and other rare pediatric cancers with minimal side effects.  As the new MIBG treatment suite continues to progress under construction, we want to ensure that we are preparing for the kids and families who will be entering this program.  New in 2018, we have developed a fundraising program focused on MIBG Therapy – the MIBG Ambassador.  Our goal for 2018 is to have 20 members collectively raising $100,000 for this initiative.  If you are interested in becoming an MIBG Ambassador, please email info@isabellasantosfoundation.org.