Luna has a beautiful smile and a light that shines everywhere she goes. When she started to feel sick and stopped acting like herself, her parents became concerned. Doctors in her hometown in Guatemala confirmed what her parents had feared, Luna had leukemia.
Luna was referred to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where doctors placed her on a treatment plan that included chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.
Eleven months later, Luna and her family were given the okay to return home to Guatemala, but a month after their arrival, red spots appeared on Luna’s legs.
Her cancer was back.
Luna and her family turned to St. Jude again, where she underwent another bone marrow transplant, chemotherapy and CAR T-cell therapy.
Because of generous donors like you, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food.
Her dad said, “St. Jude not only offers new treatment without a cost to us, but along with that treatment comes empathy and a lot of warmth.”
Meet more patients
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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.
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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 Avyan
Avyan carries himself with confidence and strength beyond his years. His manner has given fortitude to his family as they walk through an unimaginable reality.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 Gabe
When the lights on the Christmas tree hurt Gabe’s eyes, his mom knew something was wrong.
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Meet 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.
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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 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.