Amir has been a patient at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital his whole life.
Shortly after birth, his family learned he had sickle cell disease, an inherited blood disorder that causes red blood cells to become hard and sickle-shaped, instead of soft and round.
St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases, such as sickle cell disease.
St. Jude patient Amir with mom, Deyona, and Director of Patient Services, Yvonne Carroll JD.
I knew about St. Jude. But I had no idea everything they do for the patients, how in-depth the care is.
Amir's treatment includes daily penicillin and hydroxyurea, and he visits St. Jude monthly for checkup appointments.
From our first sickle cell disease research grant in 1958, to pioneering the use of hydroxyurea in pediatric sickle cell disease patients, St. Jude has been committed to researching, understanding and improving standards of care for this disease since the very beginning.
Today, we are leading the Sickle Cell Clinical Research and Intervention Program (SCCRIP), which studies how sickle cell disease progresses over time, from childhood into adulthood, and how we can improve the quality of life for sickle cell disease patients while we continue to search for cures.
At St. Jude, they care about the family and the patient. That really means a lot.
Amir is an energetic, caring toddler who loves trucks and toy trolls.
Help our families focus on their sick child, not medical bills.
When you donate monthly, your gift means families, like Amir's, never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.
Meet more patients
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Meet our patients
Meet the patients and families of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and be inspired by their stories of courage and hope.
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Meet Anna
Patient Anna wasn't able to celebrate her 16th birthday at home. Instead, a group of friends from her hometown made the journey to St. Jude, making her birthday a sweet success.
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Meet the dads of St. Jude
Marcus, Ricardo and Gustavo never thought that they would arrive in Memphis, Tenn. (where St. Jude is located) to care for their sick children. But they've found a second home at the hospital that has worked to save their children's' lives.
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Meet Dawson
Dawson is a strong, athletic kid. On Super Bowl Sunday in 2016, his parents received news that would change their lives — Dawson had cancer.
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Meet Seth and Reese
Seth and Reese met at St. Jude while being treated for the same type of cancer. They instantly became close friends.
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Meet Ellee
Before Ellee and her family found themselves at St. Jude, she was raising money, one lap at a time, for kids just like her.
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Meet Griffin
Griffin likes to play baseball and basketball with his twin brother, Graham, and their older siblings. But things weren’t all fun and games when Griffin’s family found out he had a rare type of cancer. They quickly turned to St. Jude for help.
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Gideon is home for the holidays
Two-year-old Gideon will celebrate the holidays at home for the first time, after spending two Christmases at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for treatment of stage 4, high-risk neuroblastoma.
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Meet Connor
Just before New Year's Eve 2016, Connor and his family received news that would change the tune of his life. At St. Jude, Connor's love of music is helping carry him through treatment for a brain tumor called germinoma.
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Meet Kate
St. Jude patient Kate recently stepped into the spotlight when she announced a Chicago Bears' second-round draft pick during the NFL draft.
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Meet Kadie
Former patient Kadie had her life transformed by cancer. Little did she know that her future would be changed with a proposal at the place that saved her life.
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Meet Shon
Shon's future was planned out: college foot at Auburn, then a career in the NFL. But when he learned he had cancer, Shon's dreams were put on hold.
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Meet Zoe
St. Jude patient Zoë is kicking, punching and blocking her way through treatment for a rare brain tumor.
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Meet Stella Grace
Eight-year-old Stella Grace and her family had been participating in St. Jude events for years. But when she became a patient, St. Jude took on a new meaning.
