When Alex was just 3 years old, tests revealed he suffered from neuroblastoma, a type of solid tumor. The family traveled to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where Alex underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
“St. Jude gave us hope,” said his mom, Cristina.
In January of 2016, when he was 8 years old, Alex’s cancer returned. The family came back to St. Jude, where his treatment will include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and a bone marrow transplant.
“St. Jude has been a tremendous blessing for us,” Cristina explained.
Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% since it opened more than 50 years ago.
St. Jude has given my son a second chance at life.
You might also be interested in:
-
Meet Tina
Tina celebrates her quinceañera and a second chance at life after finishing her treatment for a brain tumor. During treatment, her family found hope at St. Jude.
-
Meet Tayde
As a child, Tayde traveled from Mexico when her doctor referred her to St. Jude for cancer treatment. Today, her dream of becoming a mother has finally come true.
-
Meet Alfredo
It started when Alfredo had unexplained bruises and a constant fever. A local doctor who called for bloodwork and results confirmed that he had leukemia.
-
Meet Declan
Declan and his sister are best friends. So when he had to come to St. Jude for treatment, she was there by his side every step of the way.
-
Meet Calvin
Calvin's family turned to St. Jude for his treatment for a brain tumor because it has some of the world's best survival rates for some of the most aggressive childhood diseases.
-
Sparrow's Story
Sparrow is a quiet, cautious baby who loves to cuddle. Her favorite person is her big brother, Jace.
-
Meet Scarlet
At St. Jude, Scarlet and her mom lived at Target House for half a year while Scarlet was in treatment for acute myeloid leukemia. Her family never received a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food. .
-
Meet Keegan
Before age 2, Keegan was diagnosed with leukemia and her family was referred to St. Jude where doctors immediately got to work trying to save her life.
-
Reason to celebrate
When patients receiving chemotherapy finish treatment, St. Jude celebrates with a No More Chemo party.
-
Meet Olivia
Olivia's parents have always been supporters of St. Jude, but it wasn't until Olivia was admitted that they truly understood what a special place St. Jude is.
-
Meet Hadley
Hadley and her family weren't expecting to experience hope when she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, but that's what they found at St. Jude.
-
Meet Bailey
St. Jude patient Bailey surprises St. Jude Childhood Cancer Awareness Month ambassador and actress Lucy Hale.
-
Meet Mariangeles
Mariangeles was treated at St. Jude when she was a teenager. Today, she helps raise funds and awareness for the organization that saved her life.
-
Meet Jordyn
A competitive gymnast, Jordyn's aches and pains were thought to be a sports injury. Then, she was found to have blood cancer.
-
Meet Elliott
Elliott is social and loves the outdoors. He also loves St. Jude, where he's being treated for leukemia.