In September 2019, Caitlyn went to the eye doctor for glasses.
The next day, she was told she had a brain tumor.
Her decreasing vision was due to a slow-growing germinoma tumor that had likely been with her from birth and, due to its location, was inoperable.
“She was a little scared,” said her mom, Shea. “She had a lot of questions. She couldn't quite figure it out, because nobody in our family has ever had cancer…. I was in a fog for about two weeks.”
Caitlyn was referred to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; they arrived by ambulance in the middle of the night.
Caitlyn onboard Delta Flight 1225, known to patients and their families as the "Flight to the North Pole."
“It was dark. We couldn't see anything. But I remember the next day, a Saturday, they were doing the race in September [the St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer]. And I remember just thinking, ‘Wow, this is amazing.’ Just to see that, and all the people supporting.”
Clearly, this was someplace special.
St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
At Jude, Caitlyn began a treatment program that includes chemotherapy and proton therapy. Even if she’d rather be home playing with her siblings and going to church, Caitlyn has bonded with her care team. “She loves her nurses. Both inpatient and outpatient nurses,” said Shea.
“They’re fun,” said Caitlyn. “They get me.”
She enjoys her doctor, too. “He's funny, and gives me a lot of good reports,” she said.
“He just kinda makes that experience a little bit more relaxed,” explained Shea. “She's the kid who has a lot of anxiety and worries a whole lot. So between him and the nurses, they have really helped.”
Meet more patients
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Meet Jean Pierre
At 18, Jean Pierre is headed to university. At three years old, he was treated at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® for craniopharyngioma, a slow-growing brain tumor.
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Meet Ava
Five-year-old Ava had a cancerous brain tumor called medulloblastoma. Referred to St. Jude, she underwent a second surgery, proton therapy and chemotherapy.
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Meet Sariyah
In the summer of 2020, photos taken of St. Jude patient Sariyah by her mother showed signs of cancerous tumors in both eyes at the age of 18 months.
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Meet Patient Lucas
Around Thanksgiving of 2020, three-year-old Lucas was complaining of headaches. His parents thought he just wanted attention. An MRI indicated something more serious.
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Meet Eri'Elle
Eri’Elle was just two years old when her troubles started. Her mother took her to a pediatrician and insisted they run tests to get to the bottom of her baby’s symptoms.
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The kids and families of St. Jude are grateful for your support that helps fuel the mission: Finding cures. Saving children.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Meet Eli
At just 6 years old, Eli was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. His family was referred to St. Jude for his treatment and Eli underwent surgery to remove the tumor and a portion of his tibia.
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Meet Nova
Though Nova's eye cancer is aggressive and she is being treated for a second time, her parents know the doctors at St. Jude will stop at nothing to help their baby girl live.
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Meet Aspen
Aspen was not yet two when diagnosed with neuroblastoma. She was treated in the Philippines but six months later, the cancer was spreading so she was referred to St. Jude.
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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.
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Meet Eduardo
At 6 months old, Eduardo was referred to St. Jude where he was diagnosed with liver cancer. His treatment included surgery to remove the mass and chemotherapy.