LAS VEGAS – USA: A local mother’s journey through adversity highlights the urgent need for advanced cancer treatment options in Southern Nevada. Kim Passoth, diagnosed with blood cancer while pregnant, faced overwhelming health challenges but held off on treatment to protect her unborn child. After safely delivering her baby, she began intensive therapies in California, including groundbreaking CAR T-cell therapy, ultimately leading to remission.
In a race against time and fate, Kim’s experiences underscore a growing concern in Nevada: limited access to specialized cancer care. With a lack of pediatric and oncology specialists in the state, families are often forced to travel out of state for essential treatments, significantly impacting their quality of life and moments that matter most—a poignant reality Kim knows all too well.
Amidst this backdrop, Mountain View Hospital in Las Vegas is breaking new ground. The facility is poised to become the first in Nevada to roll out CAR T-cell therapy and allogeneic stem cell transplant services, a game-changer for patients diagnosed with acute leukemia and myeloma. This revolutionary treatment option, celebrated for its potential to cure blood cancers, will soon be within reach for many in the state.
With plans for a $1 billion freestanding children’s hospital also underway, the healthcare landscape is changing. Sarah Cannon, leading the transplant program at Mountain View, emphasizes the hospital’s commitment to providing comprehensive care. As Nevada braces for this medical evolution, families like Kim’s are hopeful—seeing their local healthcare system finally equipped to meet their needs, sparking a sense of community resilience in the face of adversity.
