Grant Gossling: Grant's Legacy Must Live On

On March 28, 2016, Michael and June Gossling experienced the unimaginable when their son Grant lost his battle with cancer.

After an ultrasound and CT scan at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in June 2014, Grant was diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroblastoma, a solid tumor cancer. There was a softball-sized tumor hidden in his abdomen, and his bone marrow was almost 100 percent full of cancer.

"The protocol for treating neuroblastoma is pretty intense," explains June, Grant's mother.

Grant spent many days, weeks and even months in the hospital undergoing treatment, but he remained in good spirits, often calling Children's "my hospital."

"Grant absolutely loved Children's!" June says. "He always made the most of his time in the hospital. He lived even while cancer was slowly taking him."

For nearly half his life, 4-year-old Grant had to undergo surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy and even a stem cell transplant to try to kill his cancer.

But it was just never enough. "Our family is now missing one," June says.

And while Grant's time on Earth ended that March day, the Gossling family didn't want their son's spirit to also go silent.

"When you lose a child, you want them to somehow live on, for people to know who they are and for their lives—no matter how short—to somehow continue to make a difference," June says.

After Grant's passing, the family asked themselves how his story could help children battling cancer in the future.

"Our previous years of giving were individual gifts—gifts that were used up until we donated again," June says. "A child who no longer lives here physically needed a gift that could keep on giving to Children's forever."

That gift came when the Gosslings decided to name the Grant Gossling Day Hospital in the newly renovated fifth floor of Scottish Rite hospital in the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's after their son.

"We knew it would be Grant's legacy," June says. "We established the Grant Gossling Neuroblastoma Research Endowment, and in the summer of 2017, we attended the ribbon-cutting of the new Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center floor and the new Grant Gossling Day Hospital."

Creating this legacy isn't just for Grant though. It is for his family to help keep their child's memory alive, including his spirit, love, feisty attitude, tender heart and Spider-Man-loving ways.

"We hope that one day there are no parents sharing a story like ours, because the great mystery has been solved and cancer has been defeated," June says. "We are passionate about creating a legacy at Children's to share our story with you, and to share our Grant with you."

You, too, can create a legacy that benefits the young patients Children's serves. To learn how, or for help finding the right gift options for you, contact Ward Sullivan at 404-785-9809 or ward.sullivan@choa.org.