Contact: media@bannerhealth.com

GILBERT, Ariz. (May 16, 2018) -- The medical team that has been treating 13-year-old Parker Young for bone cancer have playfully called him “Peter Parker,” since his name is similar to the secret identity of a web-slinging Marvel superhero.

During a recent high-dose radiation treatment at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in Gilbert, radiation therapist Morgan Fineman helped Parker actually become Spider-Man.

Note – B-roll video of this event is available at: 
http://download.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/VOD/Sequence_MD_Anderson_Spiderman_Mask_Broll.mp4

She personally hand-painted a medical mask to resemble the comic character, and surprised Parker with the gift shortly before he was treated.

Parker, who lives in Chandler, has been receiving extensive care for Ewing’s sarcoma through Banner MD Anderson services at Banner Desert Medical Center and Cardon Children’s Medical Center in Mesa. The rare type of cancer only affects about 200 children and young adults each year in the U.S.

Special arrangements were made for Parker to receive a treatment through the linear accelerator at Banner MD Anderson in Gilbert for a lesion in his brain. This particular treatment requires patients to wear a mask that helps to hold their head very still, and Fineman took the mask home to add the custom design touches that would help Parker feel as comfortable as possible during his visit.

Fineman has also made personalized masks for other patients, including a flowery design for a woman who is claustrophobic.