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Reid's big day

St. Jude patient Reid's story. Also includes mention of the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational
 
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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.

St. Jude patient Reid pictured here with his family

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.

 
 
St. Jude patient  Reid with golfer Daniel Berger

Reid with golfer Daniel Berger

Each year at the tournament, on the day of the Celebrity-Am, St. Jude patients have an opportunity to meet players on the golf course and caddy for the celebrities. In 2016, Reid was matched with Daniel Berger, who won the tournament that year. Reid enjoyed the experience so much he did it again in 2017, and once again, Berger won. Reid also participated in 2018.

This year, Reid’s name will be displayed on a FedEx plane as part of the Purple Eagle program, which honors a St. Jude patient who is the child or grandchild of a FedEx employee. Barry is a First Officer on a 767. “Oh, that’s so cool,” Reid said, when his dad told him about the plane naming. “That’s so, so cool.”

 
 
St. Jude Reid
 
St. Jude Reid
 
St. Jude Reid
 
 

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