An extended stay

For the past six years, Micah’s family has lived in China. His parents, Felicia and Jason, work with special needs orphans. In late 2014, they returned to the U.S. for a visit and planned to return to China in January 2015. 

But while visiting family in Georgia, Micah complained of being sore. At first his parents assumed it was from playing rousing games of football and tag outside. When Micah started limping and the soreness evolved into pain, they took him to the doctor. 

Within 48 hours, Micah and his family arrived at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where he's undergoing treatment for Ewing sarcoma, a type of bone cancer. The tumor is located in Micah’s upper left leg, near his hip. He underwent surgery, during which the tumor and part of the bone was removed. The bone was replaced with a titanium rod that will be adjusted as Micah grows. His continuing treatment includes chemotherapy and radiation therapy. 

“A great thing about coming to St. Jude is that there was a clinical trial Micah could start, and he responded really well to it,” said Jason. “We knew other hospitals weren’t doing the clinical trial, just standard treatment.”

Micah’s parents are appreciative of everything St. Jude does for their family. Micah turned 10 shortly after he arrived at St. Jude. “We were inpatient and the staff painted the windows and Child Life brought presents,” Felicia said. “His doctors and nurses came. We had cake and silly string. Micah just loves Child Life.”

Micah does jujitsu, likes to play Minecraft™ and builds things with Legos®. While undergoing treatment at St. Jude, Micah’s family has also taken in the sights Memphis has to offer, including visiting the Memphis Zoo and going to Memphis Grizzlies basketball games. He's a funny, laid-back kid who looks forward to returning to China with his family. “I miss the food,” Micah said. “In China, they have real Chinese food, not like the Chinese food here.”