As a kindergartener, Luxe’s legs became covered in bruises and stayed black and blue. Granted, she was an active child, but before long, she even had tiny bruises around her eyes. Her parents took her to the doctor.
Luxe was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia.
Her parents were told to imagine her bone marrow as a factory that had shut down production; her body was, essentially, making no blood products. She was referred to St. Jude and was receiving daily blood transfusions as her care team readied her for a bone marrow transplant with her brother as her donor.
St. Jude patient Luxe at St. Jude in 2020
St. Jude patient Luxe and her mom
In April 2022, Luxe’s bone marrow started failing again. She returned to St. Jude for a second transplant, this time from an unrelated donor.
“St. Jude has been our savior,” said her mom, Meagan. “When your child gets a diagnosis, things get dark."
Families, like Luxe's, will never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — so they can focus on helping their child live.
St. Jude patient Luxe and her mom
When you know there's a place that is constantly researching and coming up with new treatments and new breakthroughs, it gives you that hope. I feel like we're going to see some pretty remarkable things come from it.
- Meagan, Luxe's mom
Her mom describes Luxe as a force with “CEO energy.” She loves pink and glitter and princesses, and her ambitions include owning a cat café.
Meet more patients
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Meet Abraham
After a CT scan revealed Abraham had a mass on his brain, identified as a cancerous brain tumor called a medulloblastoma, his family turned to St. Jude for help.
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Meet Adalyn
Adalyn had stomachaches that came and went with episodes of severe pain. At the ER, doctors found a large mass above her kidney, stage-4 high-risk neuroblastoma.
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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 Eliza
Eliza’s pediatrician referred her to an ophthalmologist after testing her eyes. In turn, she was referred to St. Jude as a tumor was visible in her right eye.
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Meet Eliza
Eliza’s pediatrician referred her to an ophthalmologist after testing her eyes. In turn, she was referred to St. Jude as a tumor was visible in her right eye.
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Meet Kamryn
At 2 years old, Kamryn's bloodwork indicated he had a form of blood cancer called acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Doctors referred him to St. Jude where he would undergo more than 2 years of chemotherapy while growing to love activities like Music Therapy.
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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 Rinoa
Rinoa had an MRI due to headaches and, later, double vision. Doctors found a cancerous brain tumor called medulloblastoma and was soon referred to St. Jude.