When Lillian was 6 years old, she started complaining about back pain. Because of her young age, it was assumed she had growing pains.
Then, while on a family vacation, Lillian went on a rollercoaster, and when she got off she was in so much pain that the vacation ended early. Her mother, Leslie, thought, “This is not right. It has to be something more.”
Leslie took Lillian to her doctor, where bloodwork revealed Lillian had leukemia. The doctor immediately referred them to St. Jude. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% since it opened.
At St. Jude, Lillian began chemotherapy. Her cancer is now in remission, but she’ll need to continue receiving chemotherapy for two and a half years so that the cancer doesn’t return.
It’s a long road ahead, but Leslie loves how friendly the staff is at St. Jude. It gives her a sense of security that her child is in the right place.
“They’re so thorough here, and they take the time to get to know the patients,” Leslie said. “St. Jude, it's amazing.”
Help give hope to kids like Lillian who are fighting life-threatening illnesses. Become a Partner In Hope monthly donor today.
Meet more patients
-
Meet Hannah
After receiving a devastating diagnosis, Hannah's family turned to St. Jude, where they would be free to focus on her treatment.
-
Meet Azalea
When Azalea's family learned she had rhabdomyosarcoma, they knew they wanted the best care for her. So they traveled from Jamaica to St. Jude to begin Azalea's treatment.
-
Meet patient Tyler
When Tyler was diagnosed with bone cancer, his family turned to St. Jude for help. Read his story.
-
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.
-
Meet Ainsley
When a swollen lymph node turned out to be cancer, Ainsley's parents turned to St. Jude for help. Read her story.
-
Meet Abigail
Abigail is a vibrant 5-year-old girl who likes to make new friends — whether it’s another St. Jude patient or one of the therapy dogs that visits St. Jude.
-
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 Saniya
When 3-year-old Saniya was a baby, her parents noticed a glare in one of her eyes. She was referred to St. Jude and diagnosed with retinoblastoma.
-
Meet Leland
Despite fighting an aggressive brain tumor known as ATRT, Leland still loves to be silly and make people laugh. "He's strong and amazing," said his mom, Marisa.
-
Meet Cub
On a follow up visit to the doctor after a pneumonia diagnosis, Cub found out he also suffered from acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
-
Meet Mason
Mason and his dad, Matt, love to go fishing together. But when Mason became sick with cancer, it was hard to imagine they’d ever have moments like that again.
-
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 Kayla
Kayla endured two-and-a-half years of chemotherapy with grace and style. She ends it with a St. Jude tradition: the "No 'Mo Chemo" party.
-
Meet Jaiden
Jaiden’s family knew about St. Jude through a cousin who had been treated there years before. So when Jaiden was diagnosed with cancer, they knew where to turn.
-
Meet Sydney
When he helped St. Jude founder Danny Thomas raise funds for the hospital, Sydney’s great-grandfather had no idea he would be helping his great-granddaughter.