Hannah is a fun-loving 9-year-old with a big imagination. She enjoys pretending she is a chef or store owner and loves including her parents and 3 older siblings in these activities.
Like many kids her age, Hannah enjoys being on the go and playing outside. When Hannah was younger, she regularly walked to a duck pond near the family’s home in Huntsville, Alabama. But in late 2024, her parents, Amy and Ryan, began noticing changes. After walking short distances, Hannah grew tired quickly. When Hannah had back pain and muscle soreness, Amy and Ryan took her to the pediatrician.
At Amy’s request, Hannah’s pediatrician ran bloodwork.
The St. Jude Clinic in Huntsville allows families like Hannah's a trusted way to receive St. Jude–guided treatment for cancer and blood disorders without having to travel far from home.
Concerned about the lab results, the doctor referred Hannah to the St. Jude Clinic in Huntsville. It is located inside the Huntsville Hospital for Women and Children. The Huntsville clinic allows families to receive St. Jude–guided treatment for cancer and blood disorders without having to travel far from home.
Coordinated treatment for Hannah
At the Huntsville clinic, Hannah was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) in early 2025. Soon after, she traveled to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. She spent 9 weeks receiving inpatient treatment at St. Jude, where care is guided by decades of research and ongoing studies.
“It was very, very hard for the whole family,” Ryan says.
“Once we learned more and got reassurances from our pediatrician and oncologist that it’s a very treatable type of cancer, that helped a lot with processing those thoughts and being able to communicate this to Hannah’s siblings as well,” he says.
St. Jude care, closer to home
While in Memphis, Hannah received induction therapy. This first phase of leukemia treatment is designed to rapidly kill cancer cells in the blood and bone marrow.
After this phase, Hannah no longer required round-the-clock care in the hospital. She was able to return home and continue treatment at the St. Jude Clinic in Huntsville. Her care is coordinated between her care teams in Huntsville and Memphis. They also consult with other St. Jude experts for further guidance.
Hannah’s care team in Huntsville follows St. Jude treatment protocols and works with her Memphis care team to adjust her treatment plan as needed.
At the St. Jude Clinic in Huntsville, Hannah (back left) and her mom Amy (front right) find comfort in consulting with care providers including Sana Mohiuddin, MD, (front left) and Carli Morris, PRN advanced practice provider and Infusion RN.
“Really, our team doubled instead of going down,” Amy says. “The outreach of care is so much greater because we have the support of 2 places, and the St. Jude teams in Memphis and Huntsville are in constant communication.”
Balancing treatment and daily life
Receiving care locally has made a meaningful difference for Hannah’s family. Hannah can sleep in her own bed, spend time with family, and maintain routines that help her feel like a kid, while her parents remain involved in her care.
“It’s amazing that we can still receive the care and benefits of St. Jude without having to uproot our lives,” Amy says. “I can still do the things that I normally do—take care of the home, take care of the kids, and make sure that groceries are bought and bills are paid. All that stuff still happens when your kid has cancer. When Hannah and I first went to Memphis, I still had to worry about those things, just not at home. Being able to come back and pick up our normal life also means we get to have family time.”
Receiving care close to home helps Hannah and her family experience a sense of normalcy. Hannah can continue homeschooling, play with friends and family, and enjoy a restful night's sleep in her own bed. Her parents can remain involved in her care, support her siblings, and manage household tasks.
Hannah’s story reflects how St. Jude extends its mission beyond Memphis, bringing trusted St. Jude care and treatment closer to home.