Braxton’s mom, Nadine, says he’s a superstar. He’s always been a happy baby — even when at 6 weeks of age, his head measurement was that of a 3-and-a-half month old, owing to a very large tumor.
Braxton has always been a happy baby.
When a biopsy showed Braxton had an extremely rare brain cancer called choroid plexus carcinoma, “it was like, ‘We need to get you to St. Jude,’" recalled Nadine. So in January 2019, Braxton and Nadine made the long trip from the high desert of California to the welcoming arms of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Braxton with his mom, Nadine
At St. Jude, Nadine and Braxton found a support system far from home. She said, “Your doctors are always here for you if you need them. The nurses are always here. And other families, they're going through almost exactly what you're going through. They understand it.”
You cannot express how amazing St. Jude is. You can realize it once you get here, but you can't explain it in words.
Braxton is one of a number of St. Jude patients who have Li-Fraumeni syndrome, a genetic condition that predisposes him to develop cancers. “Hearing that news made us feel lost and scared, but St. Jude has given us hope for the future,” said Nadine.
St. Jude has helped push the childhood cancer survival rate from 20% when we opened to more than 80% today. We won’t stop until no child dies from cancer.
After his lengthy treatment at St. Jude, Braxton has returned home cancer-free. He enjoyed his first snowfall this past winter, and his parents are looking forward to many more firsts as he continues to grow.
Braxton after treatment, pictured here at 20 months old.
Meet more patients
-
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 Gabe
When the lights on the tree hurt Gabe’s eyes last Christmas, his mom knew something was wrong.
-
Meet Calvin
At St. Jude, Calvin underwent chemotherapy, proton therapy and radiation treatments for rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer of the soft tissue. He continues to receive treatment at St. Jude, having experienced a recurrence of cancer in 2020.
-
Meet Lydia
Lydia has an unusual hobby for a kid her age: reading scholarly articles in medical journals. But not just any articles. She’s interested in those authored by Dr. Gajjar, the man – along with nurses and researchers and others at St. Jude – working to save her life.
-
Meet Gracie
Gracie was eight months old when she was diagnosed with blood cancer. She underwent chemotherapy and physical, occupational and speech therapies at St. Jude.
-
Meet Patient Mikayla
Over Christmas 2020, something was wrong with then one-year-old Mikayla. Referred to St. Jude, her cancer was identified as acute myeloid leukemia. Mikayla successfully underwent chemotherapy.
-
Meet Weiming
Weiming was diagnosed with a rare disease, an immunodeficiency known as bubble boy disease and came to St. Jude at just four months from his home country of China.
-
Meet Twila
Twila was brought to her local hospital for an ear infection. When the pain didn’t resolve, doctors ran tests and found brain cancer. She was referred to St. Jude and placed on a treatment plan.
-
Meet Avyan
Avyan carries himself with confidence and strength beyond his years. His manner has given fortitude to his family as they walk through an unimaginable reality.
-
Meet Jose
After he was born, José stopped eating and lost much weight. A local doctor confirmed he had brain cancer. Surgery was performed to remove a brain mass and he was referred to St. Jude.
-
CEO message
The kids and families of St. Jude are grateful for your support that helps fuel the mission: Finding cures. Saving children.
-
Meet Carl
At 3 years old, Carl had leg pain and his belly began to swell. He had a cancerous tumor above a kidney. He was referred to St. Jude where he received treatment.
-
Meet Ay'Den
Ay'Den is a kind boy with an easy smile. When he collapsed, his family was afraid he had COVID-19. Ay'Den would be diagnosed with leukemia and referred to St. Jude.
-
Meet Myla
Myla’s mom found that her little girl wasn’t feeling well. Rushed to St. Jude, four-year-old Myla was diagnosed with a blood cancer called acute megakaryoblastic leukemia.
-
Meet Brayden
Brayden received chemotherapy as well as proton therapy for medulloblastoma at the first proton therapy center in the world dedicated solely to children.