As Chili’s employees, Austin’s parents were frequently involved in fundraisers for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. But when their son was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2011, the family traveled to the hospital they had helped so many times before. Today, they continue to support St. Jude by participating in Chili's upcoming Create-A-Pepper campaign during the month of September.
After Austin was treated for a hernia in his hometown in Louisiana, scans revealed that the then 4-year-old had a large mass on his kidney. “We were in shock and disbelief,” said Austin’s father, Andrew. Austin and his family were immediately referred to St. Jude.
“Because of our work experience with Chili’s, we knew that Austin’s treatment would be covered, but we didn’t know about all of the additional things that St. Jude takes care of,” said Andrew. 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.
During his stay at St. Jude, Austin underwent surgery to remove the tumor as well as six rounds of chemotherapy. During treatment, Austin continued being the enthusiastic and energetic boy he’s always been. “It was really shocking to his oncology team to see how active and upbeat Austin remained during treatment,” said his mother. “He never let anything get him down.”
Today, the family is back in Louisiana and returns to St. Jude every six months for scans and checkups. Austin likes to spend time outside with friends and ride his bike. He'll be starting fourth grade this fall.
Since Austin’s father continues to work at the Chili’s in their hometown, the family took part in the restaurant’s national Create-A-Pepper campaign during the month of September.
During this annual campaign, employees at participating Chili’s restaurants nationwide encourage guests to make a donation to St. Jude and receive a signature chili pepper coloring sheet.
Chili's proclaimed September 21 as St. Jude Day at more than 1,300 participating restaurants in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. On this day, Chili's celebrated by giving a minimum of $100,000 donation. Chili's Grill & Bar has raised more than $63 million for the hospital since joining the St. Jude mission in 2002.
You, too, can help give hope to kids, like Austin, who are fighting life-threatening illnesses.
Meet more patients
-
Meet patient Jacob
Jacob had frequent headaches and wasn’t himself. Diagnosed with leukemia, he was referred to St. Jude for treatment including chemotherapy to try and save his life.
-
Meet Levi
Levi was found to have acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and was quickly referred to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital where he began chemotherapy.
-
Meet Alfredo
It started when Alfredo had unexplained bruises and a constant fever. A local doctor who called for bloodwork and results confirmed that he had leukemia.
-
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 Griffin
As an Air Force family stationed abroad, Griffin’s family was living in Germany when he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia on Veteran’s Day 2019.
-
Meet Krew
What started out as a seemingly innocent bump on the head was later heartbreakingly revealed as cancer. Krew was diagnosed with leukemia at just 7 months old.
-
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.
-
Meet Scarlet
At St. Jude, Scarlet and her mom lived at Target House for half a year while Scarlet was in treatment for acute myeloid leukemia. Her family never received a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food. .
-
Meet Gabe
When the lights on the Christmas tree hurt Gabe’s eyes, his mom knew something was wrong.
-
Meet Calvin
At St. Jude, Calvin underwent chemotherapy, proton therapy and radiation treatments for rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer of the soft tissue. He continues to receive treatment at St. Jude, having experienced a recurrence of cancer in 2020.
-
Meet Lydia
Lydia has an unusual hobby for a kid her age: reading scholarly articles in medical journals. But not just any articles. She’s interested in those authored by Dr. Gajjar, the man – along with nurses and researchers and others at St. Jude – working to save her life.