Creep caught on video stealing packages that contain boy's expensive chemotherapy meds
Gage Haynes, 14, began battling cancer when he was 6 months old and has been in
and out of hospitals ever since, KLAS-TV reported.
and out of hospitals ever since, KLAS-TV reported.
"I have Systemic Mastocytosis," he told the station. "It's a rare form of cancer, and
it's just been happening my whole life so I'm used to it. Now, we've finally found a
way to help it."
it's just been happening my whole life so I'm used to it. Now, we've finally found a
way to help it."
His mother Stacey Shavinsky told KLAS that Gage takes eight Ryedapt pills daily.
"I always tell him that this is our journey," she added to the station. "We are on this
road for a reason."
road for a reason."
But neither of them were prepared for the speed bump they hit Thursday.
What happened?
KLAS said around 1 p.m. a man with an orange in one hand and a soda can in the
other was caught on security camera walking up to the front door of Shavinsky's Las
Vegas home.
other was caught on security camera walking up to the front door of Shavinsky's Las
Vegas home.
And he was caught taking packages — which contained Gage's chemotherapy meds.
"Once I realized that it was my son's medication, then I got upset," she told the
station. "You're not just taking pants or a shirt; you're taking something that's
keeping someone alive."
station. "You're not just taking pants or a shirt; you're taking something that's
keeping someone alive."
And the Ryedapt pills aren't cheap.
"I worked really hard to try and get him that," Shavinsky told KLAS. "I did financial
assistance because it costs $40,000 a month because it's not FDA approved for
anyone under 18."
assistance because it costs $40,000 a month because it's not FDA approved for
anyone under 18."
She and Gage just want his medication back.
"It really helps me out a lot," Gage told the station. "I would feel a lot better, so I can
go to school, get good grades, get a job, so just please return it."
go to school, get good grades, get a job, so just please return it."
Good news
Shavinsky told KLAS she was working with a pharmaceutical company to get
assistance, and the station added that donations on a GoFundMe page for Gage set
up about a year ago have been picking up since word of the theft got out. Shavinsky
added on the page Wednesday that she was able to supplement Gage's meds and that
a new shipment arrived.
assistance, and the station added that donations on a GoFundMe page for Gage set
up about a year ago have been picking up since word of the theft got out. Shavinsky
added on the page Wednesday that she was able to supplement Gage's meds and that
a new shipment arrived.