patient story

patient name: Brandon Watts

age: 19 years

condition: osteosarcoma

seen in: hematology/oncology

provider: Mukund Dole, MD

Brandon Watts began his journey with Dayton Children’s after he started having some pain in his knee. Jodi, Brandon’s mom, had been a longtime patient of Michael Albert, MD, division chief of orthopedics. Thinking Brandon may have a knee injury, Dr. Albert was a natural first call for Jodi.

a diagnosis and treatment plan

During Brandon’s appointment Dr. Albert ordered X-rays, and unfortunately discovered that Brandon had a tumor in his knee. Dr. Albert referred Brandon to Mukund Dole, MD in hematology/oncology who ordered a biopsy. Within two weeks of Brandon’s pain starting, he’d started treatment for osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer.

“It all happened very quickly. The first time you go in for chemo treatment it’s scary – you have no idea what to expect. Brandon had a lot of allergies so we were worried about that, and generally how his body would react and how he would react emotionally,” Jodi shared.

Jodi remembers Dr. Dole introducing Brandon and Darcie, another patient, at one of his first appointments, but it would take a bit for their friendship to develop.

starting treatment

Brandon’s first chemotherapy treatments were tough on him. It can take some time to determine the right blend of medicines to fight the cancer and to treat any side effects, and that was the case for Brandon. The first few weeks, Brandon hunkered down while he dealt with the side effects of the chemo.

After they found the right combination of medicines, Brandon felt better and started walking around the unit and talking to other patients and families. This is when Brandon’s relationship with Darcie and the others in their crew really developed.

building connections

Eventually, Brandon, Darcie and Shyla decided to start a group text to help support each other outside of the hospital. “It became this group of kids really supporting each other, really knowing what each other is going through and talking through things if we need to,” Brandon shared.

Beyond this great friendship with other patients, Brandon found personal connections with his care team too. Besides being reassuring, compassionate and expert caregivers, his care team got to know Brandon personally. From baseball to marching band, Brandon and the hem/onc team have found lots to talk about and bond over.

“We have a fourth floor full of family,” Brandon’s dad, Jeremy, said when thinking about all the caregivers who have helped treat Brandon. “I couldn’t ask for a better unit to take care of my son.”

“We can do this.”

This drive to build connections also extended to Jodi, who turned to other moms for support and camaraderie as their kids went through this difficult journey. “The idea was that no one else knows what we’re going through or is going to understand the way these friends and families do, so let’s all talk to each other and support each other,” Jodi shared.

These friendships and connections are so important in helping Jodi navigate this experience. “It helps me to know I’m helping someone else – that I’m there for them and cheering them on,” Jodi said. “With the kids too, when one of them would get down, it helped to be able to go down the hall and see a smiling face. Together, we know we can do this.”

ongoing treatment

Dayton Children’s partners with Nationwide Children’s Hospital to support patients with bone cancers. Through this one program, two campus approach, patients go to Nationwide Children’s for surgery with Thomas Scharschmidt, MD, director of the orthopedic oncology program at Nationwide Children’s, then return to Dayton Children’s for follow up care. Dr. Scharschmidt also holds regular clinics at Dayton Children’s to help lessen the burden on these families during this journey.

In August 2024, Brandon had surgery at Nationwide Children’s to remove the tumor. He is now recovering before his next rounds of chemotherapy begin back at Dayton Children’s.

lightening the load

This journey can be heavy, and can take a toll on patients and their families. Having support from friends, family, and their Dayton Children’s care team is so important and can help navigate the difficulties. Building this type of bond with families who are going through the same experience is an added support that the Watts are so grateful to have.

“If we had to go through this experience, we’ve had some of the best experiences we possibly could. Meeting Darcie and Shyla and their families is part of that,” Jodi said. “The fact that the kids came up with [the group text] on their own is pretty remarkable – they said ‘We need to do this for each other.’ The bond they have formed is inspirational to me.”

Brandon is part of a series featuring families who bonded together during their children's cancer treatment at Dayton Children's. These families supported each other through the highs and lows of their journeys - the encouragement, positivity and connection with this group helped them through their most difficult moments. Read more of their stories here: Darcie Osborne, Blakely Mefford, Nolan O'Neill