When Josiah was 6 months old, he was found to have a large, cancerous brain tumor called glioma astrocytoma. “We were in shock,” remembered his mother, Merri. He underwent surgery, but because of the tumor’s location in his brain, it could not be completely removed.
Once Josiah recovered from surgery at a local hospital, he was referred to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. At St. Jude, baby Josiah received 16 rounds of chemotherapy to fight the remaining tumor. Two weeks after Josiah finished chemotherapy, his sister was born. And more recently, his baby brother — named Jude — arrived.
Josiah is now 6 years old and, with siblings in tow, still visits St. Jude regularly for continuing physical, speech and occupational therapies as well as checkups and scans. “I know my childhood and my husband’s childhood were totally different from theirs,” said Merri. “Sometimes that’s hard and I feel a little sad about that. But, then…this is normal for them.”
He loves his doctors and nurses. For him, St. Jude is a play place first and then a hospital.
Merri shares her years of knowledge and experience with other St. Jude families as a PAIR (Parents Assisting Inspiring Reassuring) Mentor, through the Volunteer Services department at St. Jude. PAIR Mentors are highly trained St. Jude parent volunteers who help new arrivals learn to navigate what can be a very hard road. Through the PAIR Mentor program, these volunteers offer a lifeline to families like theirs — families struck by childhood cancer.
“I was interested in the program because that was what I needed,” said Merri. When her family arrived at St. Jude, Merri wished she could talk to an experienced St. Jude parent.
Over time, Merri realized she could be that person for someone else. “I felt like we knew a lot about the hospital," she said. “And I wanted to help parents just facing this. You can tell those parents by the look on their faces and you remember having seen that face in the mirror. It’s been great working with the volunteer team.”
As for Josiah’s St. Jude journey, his most recent scans showed the tumor remains stable, which is good news. He loves to listen to music, sing, dance and play with his little sister and baby brother.
Help give hope to kids like Josiah who are fighting life-threatening illnesses.
Meet more patients
-
Meet Felicity
With a diagnosis of 5 tumors in her brain and spine, Felicity is facing a struggle, but you wouldn't know it by the constant smile on her face.
-
Meet Braxton
Braxton was discovered to have a brain tumor at just 6 weeks old, with more scary news to follow. But St. Jude has given this family a lot to look forward to.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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 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 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 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.
-
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 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 Brayden
Brayden received chemotherapy as well as proton therapy for medulloblastoma at the first proton therapy center in the world dedicated solely to children.
-
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 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.
-
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.
-
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.