Nova’s mom brims with exuberance when she describes her energetic, curious and “nosy” little girl.
Bubbly Nova enthusiastically engages with the world around her and shares her precious smile freely.
One day Nova’s mom noticed her baby girl’s eye had a glare in it that she knew wasn’t right. Her local pediatrician called for tests that revealed three tumors in her left eye and two small tumors in her right eye, a diagnosis of retinoblastoma.
Thankfully, Nova and her family were quickly referred to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She received treatment to save her sight.
Families, like Nova's, will never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food.
One year later, Nova was at St. Jude again with a recurrence of cancer. She underwent additional treatment and finished it successfully.
Nova is now back home, taking swim lessons and dance classes and enjoying life.
St. Jude is beyond anything we’ve ever seen. Everyone is caring, and everyone is looking out for Nova.
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
We won’t stop until no child dies from cancer. With your support, we’ll be one step closer to that day. Join St. Jude in recognizing Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Let’s cure childhood cancer. Together.
Meet more patients
-
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 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 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.
-
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.
-
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 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.