In May 2018, Emma developed headaches – “really bad ones,” she said – and nausea. Her parents, Kevin and Evie, assumed it was from a virus. Emma was in and out of the pediatrician’s office and even had her eyes checked, but no one could pinpoint the cause of her headaches.
Finally, a gastrointestinal doctor ordered an MRI, to make sure all the bases were covered. The results showed a mass on Emma’s brain, identified as a type of brain cancer called medulloblastoma. After surgery to remove the tumor, Emma was referred to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children.
Emma’s treatment included proton therapy and chemotherapy. “St. Jude provides comfort. In this situation, you’re anxious, so much is unknown, and here, that goes away,” Kevin said. “You know you’re in the best place, and you know your child is getting the best care.”
Some of the best doctors in the world are here, and what they focus on every day is curing kids.
Now finished with treatment, Emma visits St. Jude for regular scans. She’s excited to get back to all the things she loves. Before her diagnosis, Emma kept busy with softball, gymnastics and cheerleading. As a matter of fact, just days before her family learned she had brain cancer, Emma played in a softball tournament.
“She’s a girly-girl who will also get in the dirt,” said Evie. “Emma and her twin brother love riding four-wheelers and playing outside together.”
Meet more patients
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Meet Leah
Leah is a big sister who loves dresses, shopping, singing and helping in the kitchen. In March 2019, she was referred to St. Jude for acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment, which included a transplant with her mother as her donor.
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Meet Elliott
Elliott is social and loves the outdoors. He also loves St. Jude, where he's being treated for leukemia.
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Meet Dahiralis
Dahiralis is a very active little girl who loves to play, jump and run everywhere. At 3 years of age, she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a cancerous tumor, and was referred to St. Jude where doctors provided her much-needed treatment and care.
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Meet Melanie
When Melanie was diagnosed with brain cancer and referred to St. Jude, she wasn’t nervous. She was actually looking forward to treatment — chemotherapy, proton therapy and visits from St. Jude therapy dog Huckleberry — because to Melanie, St. Jude meant getting well again.
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Meet Harmony
Harmony is artistic, detailed-oriented and loves to debate. When she noticed something was wrong on her walks to class, no one expected the cause to be a stage four Wilms tumor.
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Thank you for supporting St. Jude in 2020
The kids and families of St. Jude are grateful for your support.
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Meet Marina
Marina is a joyful 2-year-old who loves to laugh and dance with her siblings. She was referred to St. Jude after a white glimmer in her pupil led to her being diagnosed with retinoblastoma, an eye cancer.
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Meet Kaitlyn
Kaitlyn first came to St. Jude at just over a year old when she was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a soft tissue cancer. Despite all she’s been through, her smile shines bright.