A high school graduation is a major milestone. In lives touched by childhood cancer, this milestone may be more meaningful still.
Hailey was found to have a rare, cancerous brain tumor called ependymoma when she was only 2 years old. Since that time, the cancer has recurred on three occasions — when Hailey was 11 years old, again at 15, and again at 17. Each time, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has been at the ready, treating Hailey without ever sending her family a bill. 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.
“I’ve grown up going to St. Jude," said Hailey. “It’s like home for me, honestly. I’ve been going to St. Jude for 17 years, so it’s helped my family a lot to not have to pay out of pocket for my medical bills. St. Jude has helped us so much! We appreciate everything they have done for us!”

Hailey celebrates a major milestone in her life — her high school graduation.
When Hailey graduated from high school last year, it was an occasion for celebration. “Our family knew we wanted to do something together as a family before I went off on my own,” said Hailey. “My brother and I had never been on a cruise, so we thought that would be a great way to spend time together.” While aboard the cruise ship, the family travelled to Belize, Cozumel, Costa Rica and Honduras. Honduras was Hailey’s favorite.
Hailey recently finished her freshman year at college, where she made the Chancellor’s and Dean’s lists with a 4.0 GPA and is studying psychology. “I’m so excited about the future,” she said. “I love my major, so I know I’m definitely going in the right direction, and I’m excited to see what God has in store.”
Help give hope to kids who are fighting life-threatening illnesses.
Meet more patients
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Meet Alfredo
It started when Alfredo had unexplained bruises and a constant fever. A local doctor who called for bloodwork and results confirmed that he had leukemia.
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Meet Luna
When St. Jude patient Luna started to feel sick, her parents became concerned. Doctors in Guatemala confirmed what her parents had feared, Luna had leukemia.
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Meet Griffin
As an Air Force family stationed abroad, Griffin’s family was living in Germany when he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia on Veteran’s Day 2019.
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Meet Krew
What started out as a seemingly innocent bump on the head was later heartbreakingly revealed as cancer. Krew was diagnosed with leukemia at just 7 months old.
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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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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. .
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Meet Gabe
When the lights on the Christmas tree hurt Gabe’s eyes, his mom knew something was wrong.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.