Eleven-year-old Connor has always been a cheerful and active boy. A sports fanatic, Connor participates in athletics year round, with soccer and baseball being among his favorites. But in 2017, when Connor found himself undergoing treatment for a rare brain tumor at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, he soon discovered a new passion — music.
Around Christmas 2016, Connor started feeling exceptionally tired. His mom, Susan, quickly noticed the symptoms and suspected something was wrong. After a visit to their local pediatrician, Connor was diagnosed with an ear infection and was prescribed antibiotics. While Connor’s symptoms temporarily improved, he could barely keep his eyes open by New Year’s Eve.
St. Jude patient Connor with his mom, Susan
A few days later, when Connor had a seizure, his parents rushed him to the emergency room, where doctors conducted a CT scan and found a tumor in his brain. Within hours, Connor and his family were on their way to St. Jude.
After a biopsy confirmed Connor suffered from a rare brain tumor called germinoma, he began a treatment protocol that included four rounds of chemotherapy and five weeks of radiation therapy.
And as Connor underwent treatment, he soon found a safe space in a small and portable companion — his headphones.
Connor would put on his headphones and listen to his favorite songs. That really helped give him comfort throughout the experience.
Connor’s safe space soon reached new heights when he connected with the St. Jude Child Life Program. In collaboration with St. Jude child life specialists, Connor went on to write and record his own raps, which chronicled his experience with cancer.
“That was so much more comfortable for him than sitting down and talking about his experience,” said Susan. “Music became his safe space and allowed him to go into his own zone and better cope with the situation.”
Today, Connor is finished with treatment, and the family has returned home to Georgia. They are grateful for the comfort and care St. Jude provided.
“I’m so grateful we went to St. Jude,” said Susan. “I can’t imagine going through this experience without the phenomenal levels of support that St. Jude provided. It was a holistic approach to care that covered mind, body and soul.”
Help our families focus on their sick child, not medical bills.
When you donate monthly, your gift means families, like Connor'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 Sara
Determined to get Sara the best treatment possible, her parents turned to St. Jude, a world away from their home in Serbia.
-
Meet Luke
When Luke was found to suffer from a rare form of brain tumor, his family traveled from their home in England to St. Jude for treatment.
-
Meet Sofia
When Sofia’s family learned she had cancer, they were referred to St. Jude and made the long trip from Ecuador. But when they arrived, they felt right at home.
-
Meet Adam
St. Jude patient Adam has raised more than $130,000 through his fundraising campaign, Adam's Army.
-
Meet Sofia, Ana and Sara
Sofia, Ana and Sara were destined to be friends. They came from different parts of the world to share in their fight together at St. Jude.
-
Meet Mack
In the fall of 2014, Mack experienced leg pain. Tests revealed the pain was the result of a type of bone cancer called Ewing sarcoma.
-
Meet Ximena
Of her daughter’s diagnosis, her mother, Nora, said “We were on a dark path. But when we arrived at St. Jude, it was like seeing light on the path.”
-
Meet Mia
Mia has a vivid imagination, and can always spin a good story. Even an IV bag can inspire a fairy tale with Mia around!
-
Meet Tyler
Tyler's bond with his father, a FedEx employee, reaches new heights as Tyler becomes the fourth St. Jude patient honored with a FedEx airplane named after him.
-
Meet patient Luke
After Luke's cancer relapsed during his first six months of treatment, he needed a rare transplant. His parents' search for a treatment led them to St. Jude.
-
Meet Lea
Lea was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 2013, and she was treated in her home country of Canada. After the cancer relapsed, doctors referred her St. Jude.
-
Meet Hailey
Hailey has been treated at St. Jude for a brain tumor since age 2. Last year, she graduated high school and went on the cruise of a lifetime to celebrate.
-
Meet Sagr
Sagr and his family were living in India when they learned he had a type of bone cancer called Ewing sarcoma. His parents turned to St. Jude.
-
Meet Gustavo
Gustavo beat cancer once, but when it came back, his family made the long journey from Guatemala to St. Jude so he could be treated.
-
Stronger together
Seth and Reese met at St. Jude while being treated for the same type of cancer. They instantly became close friends.
