Pamela's Proton Presents connects pediatric patients who are undergoing radiation treatment at the Emory Proton Therapy Center with the opportunity to pick out a present at the end of every week. Cancer treatment is hard - not only on the body - but on the mind. Visiting Pamela's Proton Presents cheers young patients as they endure long weeks of radiation, providing them with a tangible goal to help them through challenging treatments. Your generous support ensures that pediatric patients can look forward to the simple pleasure of selecting a present at the end of each week while they are receiving care. Your kindness makes a real difference to children and their families by reminding them they are loved and supported.
Proton therapy is a form of radiation treatment that delivers an exact, high dose of radiation to a tumor site while sparing surrounding healthy tissue and organs from damage. This treatment utilizes the protons to damage the DNA of cancerous cells, causing them to die. Because it can be more precise than conventional forms of radiation treatment, proton therapy is valuable in limiting the collateral damage to healthy parts of the patient's body.
Pamela Reid, of Atlanta, Georgia, was diagnosed with cancer at the age of seven, in the fall of 2017, necessitating surgery, radiation, and chemo. Six weeks of proton radiation treatments were administered at Mass General Hospital in Boston because there was no facility in Georgia at the time. Each week Pamela looked forward to visiting the hospital's toy closet and choosing a gift. Now cancer-free, Pamela has launched Pamela's Proton Presents at Emory's new Proton Therapy Center to provide a weekly bright spot for children receiving treatment.