Little Olivia started the family vacation feeling lethargic, with a low fever and a tummy ache. She rallied, but on the long car ride home her symptoms overtook her again.
“A 2-year-old that slept the whole entire road trip …” said her mom, Kacie.
Something wasn’t right. Her pediatrician did labs and the results were stunning.
“Your entire world can be shattered in the few minutes it takes for a blood test to be run,” said Kacie. “I think then, it was pure darkness. I did not see any future.”
Olivia had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a type of blood cancer. ALL is the most common form of childhood cancer, but thanks to treatments invented at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, its survival rate has increased from 4% when St. Jude opened in 1962 to 94% today.
Kacie said, “I think that by the time we got admitted to St. Jude, we were pushing midnight. It was late. But they did not waste any time. The next morning, she was being taken down to have a port put in and have spinal taps, and lumbar punctures, and all the stuff that was not anywhere in our vocabulary of common-day conversation. Now it has become as routine as wanting to watch Mickey Mouse in our home.”
Olivia (right) with her family
Cancer treatment has meant that Olivia and her twin brother, Owen, have to spend most of their days apart, and she misses out on play dates and birthday parties with cousins. But she actually enjoys coming to St. Jude.
“Her nurses have all commented on how well she handles everything, never letting out a cry and always sitting still for them to do whatever they need to do,” said Kacie. “She is the perfect daughter and the best sister, and if you ask her, she isn’t sick.”
St. Jude has helped push the childhood cancer survival rate from 20% when we opened to 80% today. We won’t stop until no child dies from cancer.
Olivia’s parents were St. Jude supporters before her diagnosis, but even their expectations have been surpassed.
I’ve always known St. Jude is a special place, but not until we became patients did I truly understand. St. Jude means hope. St. Jude means a future for our daughter. I am eternally grateful that we have this amazing place. When people give to St. Jude they are helping to make miracles happen.
Olivia, who loves baby dolls, painted nails, pretty dresses and all things princess, will be receiving chemotherapy until 2021. Her family will owe St. Jude nothing, because families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food.
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer.
Let's cure childhood cancer. Together.
See other ways to support during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Meet more patients
-
Meet Jose
After he was born, José stopped eating and lost much weight. A local doctor confirmed he had brain cancer. Surgery was performed to remove a brain mass and he was referred to St. Jude.
-
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 Max
Max traveled from China, with the Illinois couple who adopted him, to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital where he and his family received lifesaving treatment and comforting support in equal measure.
-
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.
-
Meet Thiago
Thiago loves to dance to the rhythm of his dad's djembe. In 2019, he was born with bubble boy disease and was referred to St. Jude where he underwent a new gene therapy to save his life.
-
Meet Aaron-James
At age 2, after being diagnosed with sickle cell disease, Aaron-James came to St. Jude where he loves talking to the nurses and doctors.
-
Meet Imani
Imani was diagnosed with cancer at 5 weeks old. Her family feared the worst. But at St. Jude, there was hope for her future.