In order for our site to display correctly you will need a newer version of your web browser.
The following browsers support numerous web standards including CSS,XHTML, and the DOM (a universal means of controlling the behavior of web pages):
- Netscape v7 or higher (all platforms), Mozilla FireFox (Windows), Camino (Mac OS X), Galeon (Linux GNOME Desktop) or other browser stemming from the Mozilla.org project.
- Opera v7 or higher (Windows, Linux)
- Apple's Safari (Mac OS X)
- Konqueror (Linux KDE Desktop)
- Microsoft Internet Explorer v6 or higher (Windows) or v5 or higher (Macintosh)
Please note that this is not intended be an exhaustive list of browsers that support web standards, nor a test of browser compliance, nor a side-by-side comparison of various manufacturers’ browsers.
Finding Cures. Saving Children.
Jack's story
Jack
2 years old
Illinois
alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma
The first indication that something was wrong with Jack occurred in October 2007, when he developed swelling on his left forearm. Doctors thought it might be lymphangioma, a benign mass. Jack’s parents, Katie and Ryan, kept an eye on him. “He played normally and everything was going good,” said Katie.
But Ryan and Katie soon realized the mass was growing, and Jack started to have difficulty holding up his left arm. Before long, his parents noticed a lump under his arm pit, and he itched all the time.
In June 2008, Jack’s doctors decided to remove the mass. They biopsied a piece of the tumor and made a startling discovery: Jack suffered from alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, an aggressive soft tissue tumor.
Katie was familiar with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and as soon as she heard the word cancer, she knew that’s where she wanted Jack treated. “My cousin is a cancer survivor,” Katie said. “She came to St. Jude in 1989 for treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.”
At St. Jude, doctors confirmed Jack’s diagnosis and started him on a treatment protocol which includes chemotherapy and radiation. His treatment is scheduled to run through the summer.
Jack’s family is grateful for the people who help support St. Jude. “We didn’t realize the extent of what St. Jude provides,” Katie said. Aside from Jack’s treatment and care, the hospital also provides meals, transportation and housing for Jack and a parent.
“It’s so reassuring to know Jack’s getting the best care possible,” Katie said. “The nurses know Jack by name. It’s crazy the amount of love the nurses and doctors have.” Katie is also comforted by the fact that Jack is not afraid when he’s at the hospital. “He loves his team of doctors. At his age, it’s reassuring to know Jack’s not scared,” she said.
Despite all he’s gone through, Jack is a playful, happy boy. He likes to be outside, and his favorite place to visit in Memphis is the zoo. “There are days when he’s sick, but he can still pull out a smile,” Katie said. “Jack’s just the little sunshine of my heart.”
April 2009
