Janie is a busy little lady. Sometimes her medicines slow her down, but for the most part, she is go, go, go — and it’s up to everyone else to keep up if they can.
In early 2017, Janie had some tiny dots on her body and a low platelet count. Then, she developed a swollen belly and trouble walking. In June, she was found to have acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a cancer of the blood.
Her dad, Joe, said, “When we got this diagnosis, I didn't think there was much hope. Growing up, at my age, if anybody had that, it was a bleak future for them.”
Fortunately, Janie was immediately referred to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. St. Jude has increased the survival rates for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) from 4% before opening in 1962 to 94% today.
Three-year-old Janie is undergoing two-and-a-half years of chemotherapy. This means there’s a very good chance she will have beaten cancer by the time she starts kindergarten.
Yet, thanks to St. Jude supporters, her family will pay nothing out of pocket for this care. 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.
St. Jude takes away the stress of having to think about how you're going to pay for medical bills, where you're going to stay. They take care of everything, and you can just be there for your child and not have to worry about anything else.
Help our families focus on their sick child, not medical bills.
When you donate monthly, your gift means families, like Janie'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 Brodey
Lee Ann was a St. Jude supporter before her son was sent to the hospital for treatment. Now she sees just how much St. Jude is doing to save her child's life.
-
Meet Leonay
In 2015, Leonay developed a fever that wouldn’t go away. Her doctor in Jamaica ordered tests, which revealed she had cancer.
-
Meet Tamara
Rosaline knew something was wrong with her daughter, Tamara. When she decided to pay for an MRI at a private clinic, it likely saved her daughter’s life.
-
Father's Day video
A father's love is unconditional. See how St. Jude dads stay strong for their families. Join St. Jude in celebrating dads this Father's Day.
-
Meet Hayden
Hayden has been through chemotherapy and brain surgery - but his family will never receive a bill from St. Jude for anything.
-
Meet Scott
When Scott came to St. Jude for treatment, his whole family came too. “The ability to keep our family together was essential,” Scott’s mom said. “That has been something St. Jude has offered."
-
Meet patient Camila
After undergoing treatment in her home country of Nicaragua, Camila’s family turned to St. Jude for continuing care for acute myeloid leukemia.
-
Meet Abby
Abby was 6 years old when she received a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a form of blood cancer and the most common type of childhood cancer.
-
Meet patient Gideon
Baby Gideon is always ready with a smile — even when faced with a tough diagnosis. Read on to see how your support makes a difference to him and his family.
-
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 Jacob
The hush that falls upon a golf course is far different than the hush Jacob’s mom remembers when she learned Jacob had a cancerous tumor.
-
Meet Gracie
What Gracie's mother initially thought was appendicitis turned out to be a far worse diagnosis for Gracie's condition: acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
-
Meet Armando
St. Jude patient Armondo traveled from Guatemala to receive treatment. He was so inspired by the energy he felt at St. Jude that he helped start a blog to help other teens cope.
-
Meet Khamoni
Khamoni’s mother was afraid her disease wasn't survivable, but St. Jude has increased the survival rates for Khamoni’s type of leukemia to 94 percent today.
-
Meet Lillian
Chemotherapy isn't easy, and we support the emotional well-being of patients like Lillian undergoing treatment. “ St. Jude is giving me my child,” says her mom.
