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More than 300 motorcycles rallied in the Sulphur Springs Walmart parking lot to escort Caston Stewart, 2, (not pictured) home to Mount Vernon after he was released from Dallas Children’s Hospital, where he is receiving chemotherapy for stage 3 Neuroblastoma. Screen shot/Video by Randy Brannon -
Caston Stewart, now 2, was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma at 15 months old. He is currently receiving a second round of treatment for stage 3 cancer. Courtesy/ Clayton Stewart
2-year old escorted home following treatment
MOUNT VERNON—About 300 motorcycle riders from across North Texas showed up in Sulphur Springs to serve as an impromptu escort for a young cancer survivor who was heading home from Children’s Hospital, Dallas Sunday.
Caston Stewart, 2, has been undergoing treatment since 2019 for a Neuroblastoma Stage 3 with which he was diagnosed in his first year of life. Little Caston has only four more chemotherapy treatments scheduled and has been doing so well, his doctors released him to go home with his family.
It was to be a memorable occasion for them, the family said. To mark it as special and share it with others, Caston’s dad, Clayton Stewart, put the word out on Facebook about the path they would be traveling from Dallas to Mount Vernon.
“Would anybody be interested in doing a [sic] escort ride home for my son… he absolutely loves motorcycles,” he wrote.
Clayton Stewart was surprised, wife and mother Emily Stewart said, when asked to exit from Interstate 30 and detour to the Sulphur Springs Walmart parking lot to encounter a huge gathering of motorcyclists waiting to join in the entourage.
“Apparently Clayton’s message on Facebook went viral, because all these riders showed up. I understand some of them are individuals and many are members of riding clubs. They circled around us and held a brief recognition for Caston where everybody applauded before mounting back up for the last leg of the trip to Mount Vernon with us. It was a show of love and joy for our son on this beautiful day,” Em ily Stewart said.
Emily Stewart explained that Caston has been in Children’s Hospital in-patient and out-patient visits for 440 days, since he was admitted March 11, 2019. The child’s treatment plan has been successful, the family said, and he is currently in his second round of chemotherapy.
“Caston is a true fighter, and now he is acting like a normal 2-year old. His two brothers are going to be so happy to have Caston home, and have us all back home again,” Emily Stewart said.
In his hometown of Mount Vernon and online, fundraisers have been set up for Caston’s medical and family travel expenses.
According to the American Cancer Society, Neuroblastoma starts in certain very early forms of nerve cells, most often found in an embryo or fetus. (The term “neuro” refers to nerves, while “blastoma” refers to a cancer that affects immature or developing cells.) Neuroblastoma occurs most often in infants and young children. It is rare in children older than 10 years. Following treatment, patients continue to be monitored closely by their medical care team.