Ay'Den is a gentle kid with a ready smile – "a sweetheart", as his mother would say – who loves to color and run around with the dogs and play video games.

One day, seven year old Ay’Den fell at school and everything changed.
He wasn’t feeling well that morning but went on to school anyway. He collapsed and his mother was promptly called to come pick him up.

She took him to their local doctor and blood tests revealed that his white blood cell count was very high.
That’s when Ay’Den and his mom heard the news; Ay’den was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.

Ay’Den was quickly referred to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where he began receiving chemotherapy to try and save his life.
Because of generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – so they can focus on helping their child live

Sharvae, Ay'Den's mom, was surprised to find out how much St. Jude does for families.
Seeing her child through cancer during a pandemic was more than difficult, but St. Jude gave her renewed hope.

St. Jude made us comfortable. I don’t know what I would have done without them.

Ay’Den has now successfully finished cancer treatment.