LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – A Las Vegas family is traveling hours to get their daughter the cancer treatment she needs. But the state’s first freestanding hospital is providing a glimpse of a different path.
The newly announced hospital president explained to FOX5 what the future facility will offer, and how it would shorten the trip for families seeking care.
Kaylee’s Journey
It was just a sinus infection.
At least, that’s what Rick Petrovich says doctors told them when his 6-year-old daughter, Kaylee Grace, was having pain in her cheek.
Through doctor visits and antibiotics, life moved on. They planned a party to celebrate Kaylee turning 6. Until one call made time stand still.
“It happens so often, but you never think it would happen to you or your kids,” Petrovich says.
Scans revealed a mass behind Kaylee’s cheek and jaw. Doctors told Petrovich they’d have to travel to Salt Lake City or Los Angeles for a full diagnosis.
But, they suggested celebrating Kaylee’s special day first.
“He said, ‘Have her birthday party. No 6-year-old should miss their birthday’,” he says.
So they threw a party, then hit the road.
In Utah, Kaylee was diagnosed with Stage 3 Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare soft-tissue cancer.
“We told her that she’s got a sickness, and she’s going to have to fight through it. There’s gonna be some hard times, but we’re going to be with her along the way,” he says.
Petrovich says Kaylee’s treatment includes a three-week cycle of chemotherapy in Utah. The family was forced to split their time between Salt Lake and Las Vegas while juggling two other young kids and Petrovich’s job.
“Sometimes you just have to slow down, take it moment by moment,” he says.
By the time Nevada’s first freestanding hospital opens its doors, the family has faith that Kaylee’s cancer will be a thing of the past. But Petrovich is hopeful it will ensure no other families will have to travel hours to get their children the care they deserve.
To find Kaylee’s family’s GoFundMe, click here.
Nevada’s First Freestanding Hospital
For families like Kaylee’s, 2030 represents a new future. The state’s first freestanding children’s hospital is set to break ground by the end of the year and open for business by 2030.
“This will be an opportunity for people to come to Nevada for care, as opposed to right now having to leave for some of the more complex diagnoses,” the hospital’s newly named president, Lawrence Barnard, says.
Barnard calls the future facility “world-class.”
“We are looking at having a surgical-level 4 NICU, there are some opportunities in oncology where kids are leaving town now. I think that radiology and oncology are going to be a really big part of that. We’re going to be looking at higher level orthopedic care,” Barnard says. “Partnering with cardiology and pediatric cardiology to look at new opportunities.”
Right now, he says they’re in the design phase of the hospital, which will be located in UNLV’s Harry Reid Research and Technology Park in Southwest Las Vegas.
They’re recruiting physicians from in and out of state, and meeting with stakeholders to ensure the setup works for the community.
Next, Barnard says they’ll choose a contractor and start building.
He says the hospital is only one component of the children’s health network they’re hoping to build. They also want to add more general providers, clinics, and subspecialties in the Las Vegas Valley.
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