Kaiser Permanente fulfills wish for cancer victim, b-ball fan

The Warriors didn’t win the game, but for Paul Santos, 14-year-old Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara cancer patient and a life-long basketball fan, attending the NBA Finals game recently was a dream come true.
He was a typical Silicon Valley child focused on school and playing basketball before he was diagnosed two years ago with acute myeloid leukemia. He’s been getting care at Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center since then.
He always dreamed of seeing his basketball idol LeBron James of the Cavaliers. “I started liking him when I was younger and I guess I never stopped,” says Paul.
On Sunday, June 7, Santos attended his first NBA game in Oakland, no less than Game 2 of the finals between the Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors, and saw his idol in action, thanks to Kaiser Permanente and the National Basketball Association.
“Paul’s really a wonderful patient, kind of part of our family in Hospital Pediatrics,” said Wendy Celaya, a Kaiser Permanente Childlife Specialist who kickstarted the work to grant Paul’s wish. At Kaiser Permanente, Childlife Specialists ease the fears and enhance the hospital experience for pediatric inpatients.
Acute myeloid leukemia is an aggressive form of cancer and Paul had to go through multiple rounds of chemotherapy, Celaya said. Each round, she said, put Paul in the hospital for a month or more.
“Unfortunately, he relapsed after finishing treatment initially and had to undergo treatment again until he was ready for a bone marrow transplant” Celaya said. Paul is now being monitored closely to make sure the transplanted marrow is functioning well.
Celaya knew of Paul’s wish and contacted Kaiser Permanente Northern California, which is the National Basketball Association’s first health care partner. Kaiser Permanente partners with the NBA to promote healthy living and co-sponsors activity workshops with teams to bring activity to disadvantaged children.
The NBA arranged tickets, parking and safe seating for Paul and his dad, as Paul is still recovering from his bone marrow transplant. On game day June 7th, Paul and his dad stopped by Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara to pick up passes and documents.
“I’m a very simple man,” said Paul’s dad Joel Santos, as he fought back tears. “I’m so grateful to Kaiser Permanente for my son’s life and this gift.”
At the hospital that Sunday Paul was greeted by nurses and doctors at Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara before heading off to the game.
“For all that he’s been through here, Paul never complained, never stopped smiling and being cheerful,” said Celaya.
He received a half-dozen smiling greetings in the Pediatrics Unit and warm hugs from at least a half-dozen nurses and staff who had cared for Paul over the last two years. Then it was off to the game, his first NBA experience.
Describing the experience the following day, Paul said it was all “beyond my wildest dreams.”
“We had great seats and I could really see LeBron play,” said a very happy Paul.