In May 2018, Marric was found to have a mass in his little abdomen the size of a cantaloupe.
It was Burkitt lymphoma, a very aggressive cancer in which immune cells called B lymphocytes turn malignant and proliferate uncontrollably.
This was not Marric’s first diagnosis. He was also diagnosed with autism earlier in his life.
Medical environments can be upsetting to any child, but given Marric’s pronounced sensory issues, his mom, Amber, was unsure how he would cope.
“Noise gets to him,” she explained. “He needs his space, and if it gets too loud, too bright, he just starts kind of shutting down.”
St. Jude patient Marric with his sister
At St. Jude, the staff met Marric where he was, helping him cope with cancer treatment as a child with autism.
They did everything from changing his bandages while he slept to preparing his favorite things to eat – especially important because his sensory issues cause him to shun a lot of foods.
St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
“Child Life stepped in by helping us come up with this amazing plan to make this as easy as possible on Marric, and it was a godsend,” said Amber.
They used play involving medical dolls to help Marric become comfortable with what was happening to him. They put books together to help explain Marric’s disease and treatment in ways he and his sister could understand.
“They’ve been incredible,” Amber continued. “I don’t think I could have done this without the Child Life specialists. I really don’t.”
Chemotherapy and surgery saved Marric’s life. Today, he is cancer-free.
“I am so proud of him. He’s so much stronger than I ever gave him credit for,” said Amber.
Meet more patients
-
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.
-
CEO message
The kids and families of St. Jude are grateful for your support that helps fuel the mission: Finding cures. Saving children.
-
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.
-
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.