How Biotechnology is Helping Two Special Boys Live
My WHITECOAT production team (Chip Kuhn, Emily Deckelman, and Jason Baker) and I learned this month that Saving Roman, a short-form film we produced in late 2009, was honored with two national First Place awards by the prestigious Communicators Awards organization. The categories are Public Relations and Use of Animation. While we are naturally proud to have received national recognition for our work, we are even prouder of our sponsor, the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) and their 1,100 member companies that are revolutionizing the worlds of medicine, agriculture and industry.
Saving Roman began when BIO president and CEO Jim Greenwood asked us to produce a short film about the critical need for sustained biotechnology research funding and capital investment and the positive impact biotech companies have on the lives of patients and their families. After considering several powerful story examples, we focused on a young boy from Kentucky named Roman who was suffering from a terrible childhood cancer called Neuroblastoma. I am flooded with great memories of being with Roman and his parents and sister at their home. Along the way we also traveled to Childrens’ Hospital of Philadelphia where we met another special young boy named Trey who suffered from the same disease. Together these brave young men – and their incredible parents – showed us what real courage is all about.
Today, Roman continues to undergo full body CT scans, MIBG injections/scans, as well as routine lab testing, urinalysis and CBC counts once every three months to check for signs of returning tumors. His doctors have given him a 33% chance of survival. Trey recently participated in a clinical trial where he received human monoclonal antibodies. Their stories remind us how critical it is for the biotech industry to continue working toward new treatments and cures.
WHITECOAT is proud to dedicate this award to Roman and Trey.
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