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MINEOLA, Long Island (WABC) –
A mother from Long Island is fighting for her son to be removed from chemotherapy after his doctor has given him an irreproachable state of health.
Candace Gundersen's 13-year-old son, Nick Gundersen, is undergoing court-ordered chemotherapy at the NYU Winthrop Hospital in Mineola. He is now in the custody of the Suffolk County Child Protection Services.
Huntington's Gundersen said doctors at Cohen Children's Medical Center had diagnosed Nick with acute leukemia to doctors. In June 2018, she asked the doctors if she could get a second opinion before the start of the chemotherapy on June 30th.
"They told me that if I did not accept the treatment they would call the CPS and get me fired, my son would undergo the treatment anyway," Gundersen said. "Then I signed the consent."
Gundersen, who is a holistic wellness coach, said Nick had been hospitalized for 30 days and had an adverse reaction to chemotherapy.
"He lost more than 20% of his body weight.He developed typhlitis, a life-threatening bowel infection," he said.
He was discharged on July 24 and continued his ambulatory appointments until August 29. On August 29, the doctors tried to admit Nick, but his mother refused. A doctor there called CPS. The Cohen Children's Medical Center did not return Eyewitness News' comment request.
On September 2, Gundersen stated that police and the CPS were at her house at 3:30 am, seized Nick and forced him to return to Cohen. On September 11, Gundersen had Nick transferred to NYU Winthrop Hospital in Mineola, where he was continuing his chemotherapy.
In mid-October, NYU Winthrop doctors told Nick that his cancer was gone, but informed the family that Nick would need three years of chemotherapy, which is considered the standard of care. Gundersen refused, opting for her son to receive what she called non-toxic preventive treatments that keep the cancer in remission.
"I want him to have a long, healthy life and that he has this opportunity.If he is forced to follow this chemotherapy treatment for the next three years, this is not what will happen, "she said. "I think we should be allowed to have choices, especially when they are less toxic"
On October 14, Gundersen took Nick to Florida to meet with a group of doctors in charge of preventive therapies. When Nick did not return to NYU Winthrop for chemotherapy on Oct. 15, CPS called Gundersen.
"They told me that he needed chemotherapy and that I had to provide the documentation that he was on chemotherapy and that if he did not undergo chemotherapy, that was would be a problem, "she said.
CPS initiated an emergency referral process on October 19 to seize control of Nick. NYU Winthrop's Dr. Mark Weinblatt testified a week later in front of a Suffolk County family court judge that Nick was facing imminent death. On October 26, the judge granted Nick custody to CPS and ordered him to return to Suffolk County. Nick left Florida and was admitted on October 30th to NYU Winthrop.
J. Edmund Keating of NYU Winthrop Hospital said in a statement to Eyewitness News: "Our treatment of the child is based on the highest standards of medical care and results from the collaboration with his legal guardian, who has ordered that the child come NYU Winthrop Hospital. "
Nick told Eyewitness News reporter Kristin Thorne during a FaceTime conversation Friday from his hospital bed in New York City that he was angry at CPS.
"Basically, they've kidnapped me from my parents and it's useless as they try to help me and not try to kill me." I think they should be focus on other families who really need help and whose children are actually living dangerously, "he said.
Dennis Nowak, Acting Commissioner of Suffolk County's Department of Social Services, said, "Child Protection Services are being conducted in accordance with the Suffolk County Family Court Order."
Nick said that he did not want to receive chemotherapy because he had no cancer.
"It makes me feel bad at all, I prefer to do something that is good for me and helps me," he said, referring to alternative cancer therapies.
Gundersen is scheduled to appear in Suffolk family court next week. She said that she would continue to fight until her son was released from the hospital.
In a statement to Eyewitness News, Terry Lynam of Northwell Health said, "Because of patient confidentiality, we can not comment specifically on this case, that we hope Nicholas will receive the treatment he needs. "
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