This past year, St. Jude patient Reid, who was treated for a cancerous tumor, was selected to have a FedEx plane named after him at the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational®.

There were no symptoms something was wrong with Reid until, suddenly, there was one big symptom. Reid was sitting in the kitchen with his family one evening in January 2015. He looked up at something – but only his right eye turned upward. His left eye stayed still.

Doctors at the local children’s hospital referred Reid and his parents, Michelle and Barry, to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Tests soon confirmed Reid had a type of cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma. 

Reid’s parents were terrified. “It was the worst day of our lives,” said Michelle. “But the moment we arrived at St. Jude, we felt like part of the family.”

“We were familiar with St. Jude,” Michelle said. “We’d always donated, but we’d never set foot on campus.” Reid’s dad, Barry, works for FedEx as a pilot. They’ve always appreciated how much FedEx does in support of St. Jude.

Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% since it opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude won’t stop until no child dies from cancer.

At St. Jude, Reid’s treatment included chemotherapy and proton therapy, and he now visits the hospital for regular checkups. “At St. Jude, you witness miracles happen,” Barry said. “St. Jude saved our son’s life.”

Reid’s favorite things about St. Jude are playing video games in the waiting rooms and attending events that help raise awareness for the hospital. One of Reid’s favorite events is the Little Loopers program, which is held during the week of the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational.