When Aniya was 3 years old, her mother, Angela, noticed a worrying change. Far from being her usual active and playful self, Aniya was lethargic and in pain.
“All she ever wanted to do was eat a little bit and go to sleep,” recalled Angela. “And she complained of headaches every day.”
Angela took her daughter to the local emergency room where a CT scan revealed a tumor in Aniya’s brain. The next day, they were transported to St. Jude, where we have the largest research-based pediatric brain tumor program in the country, and the world’s best survival rates for some of the most aggressive childhood cancers.
At St. Jude, doctors found Aniya suffered from a rare and dangerous brain tumor known as pineoblastoma. She underwent chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery to remove the tumor. And like all families at St. Jude, Aniya’s family never received a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food — because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.
It really kept me at ease, knowing that I didn’t have to worry about having to pay for anything. It meant a lot to me to be able to focus on Aniya getting better.
Angela, Aniya's mom
“It really kept me at ease, knowing that I didn’t have to worry about having to pay for anything,” said Aniya’s mom. “It meant a lot to me to be able to focus on Aniya getting better.”
Now Aniya is cancer-free and back to being herself. “She’s been going to school, and she’s been mastering everything they have taught her,” said mom, Angela, with pride. “It just keeps a smile on my face every day to know that she feels better.”
Help our families focus on their sick child, not medical bills.
When you donate monthly, your gift means families, like Aniya'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
-
Meet Hannah
After receiving a devastating diagnosis, Hannah's family turned to St. Jude, where they would be free to focus on her treatment.
-
Meet Azalea
When Azalea was found to have rhabdomyosarcoma, her parents, Simone and Ricardo, traveled from Jamaica to St. Jude so Azalea would receive the best care.
-
Meet patient Tyler
When Tyler was diagnosed with bone cancer, his family turned to St. Jude for help. Read his story.
-
Meet Ainsley
When a swollen lymph node turned out to be cancer, Ainsley's parents turned to St. Jude for help. Read her story.
-
Meet Abigail
Abigail is a vibrant 5-year-old girl who likes to make new friends — whether it’s another St. Jude patient or one of the therapy dogs that visits St. Jude.
-
Meet Gracie
What Gracie's mother initially thought was appendicitis turned out to be a far worse diagnosis for Gracie's condition: acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
-
Meet Saniya
When 3-year-old Saniya was a baby, her parents noticed a glare in one of her eyes. She was referred to St. Jude and diagnosed with retinoblastoma.
-
Meet Leland
Despite fighting an aggressive brain tumor known as ATRT, Leland still loves to be silly and make people laugh. "He's strong and amazing," said his mom, Marisa.
-
Meet Cub
On a follow up visit to the doctor after a pneumonia diagnosis, Cub found out he also suffered from acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
-
Meet Mason
Mason and his dad, Matt, love to go fishing together. But when Mason became sick with cancer, it was hard to imagine they’d ever have moments like that again.
-
Meet Khamoni
Khamoni’s mother was afraid her disease wasn't survivable, but St. Jude has increased the survival rates for Khamoni’s type of leukemia to 94 percent today.
-
Meet Kayla
Kayla endured two-and-a-half years of chemotherapy with grace and style. She ends it with a St. Jude tradition: the "No 'Mo Chemo" party.
-
Meet Jaiden
Jaiden’s family knew about St. Jude through a cousin who had been treated there years before. So when Jaiden was diagnosed with cancer, they knew where to turn.
-
Meet Sydney
When he helped St. Jude founder Danny Thomas raise funds for the hospital, Sydney’s great-grandfather had no idea he would be helping his great-granddaughter.
-
Meet Liam
After they finish treatment, patients like Liam visit St. Jude for regular checkups. His family anxiously awaited the results of his first scan post-treatment.