When Wendy Stacken's son Nick was born, doctors warned her that he would face significant health challenges and an uncertain future. Because of his multiple health issues, including an underlying immunodeficiency, Nick was prone to infections, and his doctors didn't expect him to live long.

"When Nick was six months old, before his diagnosis, one of his infectious disease doctors looked at me and said, 'I don't think Nick's going to live to be one,'" Stacken said. "When he was officially diagnosed at 13 months, another doctor said, 'I've got to be honest with you, he's not going to make it to two.'"

Despite the discouraging prognosis, Stacken believed that with the right care, her son could survive and — more importantly — thrive.

"A doctor asked me, 'Do you want him to live or do you want him to just survive?'" said Stacken. "I wanted him to live, of course. I wanted Nick to be happy, make friends and participate in activities, not just survive."

Today, thanks to his mother and specialty care team, Nick is 31 and a lifelong Special Olympics competitor.

The critical role of simplified specialty care

From the very beginning, Nick required complex, ongoing specialty care, including round-the-clock antibiotic, antifungal and immunoglobulin (IG) infusions that needed to be administered by a healthcare professional.

Luckily, Stacken connected with the CVS Specialty/Coram pharmacy and nursing care team.

"Specialty pharmacies support patients with complex and chronic conditions, such as cancer, hemophilia and immunodeficiencies, among others," said Lucille Accetta, Chief Pharmacy Officer and Head of CVS Specialty Operations, CVS Health. "They're not typically what you see in a neighborhood or community pharmacy. Many specialty therapies require specialized handling, clinical expertise and ongoing support to help patients stay on therapy and manage their care."

For Stacken, having access to simplified specialty care for Nick was life-changing.

"Our in-home nurse came every day to administer his treatments," Stacken said. "I was terrified and overwhelmed, but his home care nurse gladly educated me on what his treatments were and what to expect. Even after she left, she would call us to make sure we were doing OK. That meant a lot to me."

As an adult, Nick continues to receive compassionate care from CVS Specialty/Coram nurses, particularly for his weekly IG infusions, a critical part of his care. This therapy helps support Nick's immune system, making consistent therapy essential to his day-to-day stability.

"For many patients, therapies like immunoglobulin — IG therapies — are an essential part of managing their condition," Accetta said. "What makes specialty care different is the combination of pharmacy expertise and nursing support. Whether it's helping patients receive treatment at home, answering questions or providing ongoing education, the goal is to make care as simple as possible for patients and caregivers. That's why we wrap our therapies with CareTeams that include nursing and pharmacy care."

Expertise, compassion and trust

Specialty care from nurses and pharmacists isn't a one-off experience. These health care professionals become invaluable members of a patient's care team and offer care beyond administering treatments. They help educate families so they can manage a patient's care with confidence and offer personalized continuity of care.

"The therapy is only one part of the patient experience," Accetta said. "Patients and caregivers often rely on a team of pharmacists, nurses and health care providers who work together to support them over time. It's about empowering caregivers and patients by building trust and confidence at every step."

For Stacken, Nick's care team has also become an important part of the family's life.

"They're our family, they really are," Stacken said. "Nick's first long-term nurse was with him until he was 10 or 12. Now, Jackee helps him with his weekly IG infusions. They would go out of their way to find something in common to connect with Nick. It's beautiful."

Nick's experience is just one story about how pharmacist- and nurse-driven specialty care can simplify complex health journeys, leading to resilience, determination and possibility. To learn more, visit CVSHealth.com.