Deunta was born into a lifelong medical battle. When he was 2 weeks old, his family learned he had sickle cell disease, a chronic, inherited blood disorder that deforms red blood cells and can cause anemia, severe pain, organ damage and even death.
Deunta’s mother was distraught; her aunt died of complications from the same disease in her early 30s. But Deunta was referred quickly to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
St. Jude has taken a major step in its large sickle cell program by expanding the research focus beyond treating symptoms to seeking a cure. The hospital is conducting a high-tech study called the Sickle Cell Clinical Research and Intervention Program, geared toward better understanding how sickle cell disease progresses over time and providing valuable health screenings for patients into adulthood.

At St. Jude, Deunta began taking penicillin to combat his symptoms. Once he turned 2 years old, he began taking hydroxyurea, and his mom has seen great improvement. Now 4 years old, Deunta is a loving, playful, happy boy who knows his way around St. Jude like it’s his second home.
He visits St. Jude for medication, checkups and bloodwork every month. Like all St. Jude patients, Deunta receives this care free of charge. Families 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.
Help our families focus on their sick child, not medical bills.
When you donate monthly, your gift means families, like Deunta'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 Jamelia
At 4 years old, Jamelia felt bad and saw blood in her urine. Diagnosed with renal cell cancer, she was referred to St. Jude for treatment including proton therapy.
-
Meet patient Jacob
Jacob had frequent headaches and wasn’t himself. Diagnosed with leukemia, he was referred to St. Jude for treatment including chemotherapy to try and save his life.
-
Meet Lucas: Patient Video
When Lucas' family planned their trip to the United States from Chile, they never dreamed it would include a hospital stay for Lucas to begin cancer treatment.
-
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 Quincy
There are few things scarier than your child receiving a diagnosis of cancer, but that's the boat Karla and Quinton found themselves in. Now they're at St. Jude, and those fears are being cast aside and replaced with hope for a cure for their son, Quincy.
-
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 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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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 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.
-
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.
-
Meet Maelin-Kate
Maelin-Kate was diagnosed with a rare blood disease at age 5, but her mom says, "Every day, she finds a reason why it's the best day ever."
-
Meet Colton
Colton is a 12-year-old who's used to being active in every area of life. And while an aggressive form of kidney cancer might have threatened that, St. Jude was right by his side.
-
Meet Yamila
Yamila experienced cancer three times and is now celebrating five years of remission. Thanks to St. Jude and supporters like you, her journey as a musician, avid animal lover and cancer survivor continues.