In 2018, 13-year-old Natalie underwent an MRI to find the cause of her knee pain. It seemed likely to be an injury from cheerleading, but after her stepsister, Olivia, was diagnosed with bone cancer that summer, no one wanted to take any chances.
Natalie’s MRI did show something unusual – possibly a bone infection. But the biopsy proved Natalie had osteosarcoma – same as Olivia – in her right tibia.
In a matter of days, Natalie joined her stepsister at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
When Natalie arrived in October 2018, Olivia was a month into the osteosarcoma treatment that Natalie would also complete.
They received chemotherapy and limb-saving surgery, in which the affected area of bone was removed and replaced with a rod, as well as physical therapy.
St. Jude patient Olivia (left) and Natalie (right) walk with their IV poles down the hallway.
They became “battle buddies,” keeping each other upbeat and passing the time with normal teen stuff, like makeup and their favorite shows.
I had someone really close to me that knew almost exactly how I felt and what I was going through.
St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
Both girls have now finished treatment and gone home cancer-free and are back at school. They return to St. Jude for checkups. Their families hope their surprising story will help spread awareness.
Meet more patients
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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. .
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Meet Gabe
When the lights on the tree hurt Gabe’s eyes last Christmas, his mom knew something was wrong.
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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.
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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.
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Meet Gracie
Gracie was eight months old when she was diagnosed with blood cancer. She underwent chemotherapy and physical, occupational and speech therapies at St. Jude.
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Meet Patient Mikayla
Over Christmas 2020, something was wrong with then one-year-old Mikayla. Referred to St. Jude, her cancer was identified as acute myeloid leukemia. Mikayla successfully underwent chemotherapy.
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Meet Weiming
Weiming was diagnosed with a rare disease, an immunodeficiency known as bubble boy disease and came to St. Jude at just four months from his home country of China.
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Meet Twila
Twila was brought to her local hospital for an ear infection. When the pain didn’t resolve, doctors ran tests and found brain cancer. She was referred to St. Jude and placed on a treatment plan.
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Meet Avyan
Avyan carries himself with confidence and strength beyond his years. His manner has given fortitude to his family as they walk through an unimaginable reality.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.