Luis Fonsi and St. Jude patient Mayela get ready for a puppet show during the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign.
Mayela began treatment in Puerto Rico, but was soon referred to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Her family was familiar with St. Jude – they’d seen commercials for the hospital.
St. Jude patient Mayela poses with her puppet during filming for her TV spot
“When we walked through the doors of St. Jude, we felt we could breathe again,” Angel said. “We trust it was God who brought us to the right place. We never imagined how beautiful it would be.”
St. Jude patient Mayela during her filming with St. Jude supporter Luis Fonsi
Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.
At St. Jude, Mayela underwent a bone marrow transplant in August 2018, with her dad serving as her donor. Her parents are thankful for the treatment and care she received.
“The attention, the dedication and the love the staff show to the parents and the patients is incredible,” said Angel. “We love the way doctors sit with us to explain every step of the process and how quick they are to respond to our needs. We love the happiness and how comfortable the staff make the families and patients feel. We love that St. Jude keeps looking for the cure for cancer.”
We love that St. Jude keeps looking for the cure for cancer.
St. Jude patient Mayela with Luis Fonsi
Mayela has finished treatment and now visits St. Jude every six weeks. She’s in second grade and loves to play with dolls and do crafts. “She’s an extrovert, always talking,” Karen said. “She loves to make videos and have fun.”
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St. Jude patients have cancer and other life-threatening diseases, but they also dance, travel, compete and so much more.
