Last September, Woods complained of headaches, ran a fever and threw up in the mornings after he woke. His parents, Ashley and Henry, worried something was wrong.
Just before Woods’ fourth birthday, their fears were confirmed when a CT scan revealed Woods had a type of cancerous brain tumor called medulloblastoma.
St. Jude patient Woods with his favorite stuffed toy
We wanted to be where doctors saw hundreds of these types of cases.
Ashley and Henry were familiar with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and asked for a referral. “We wanted to be where doctors saw hundreds of these types of cases,” Henry said. Within days, the family arrived at 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 is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90%.
At St. Jude, Woods underwent surgery to remove the tumor, followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy, which he completed in May 2018.
His family celebrated the end of his treatment with a No More Chemo party, attended by family, friends and Woods’ St. Jude care team.
St. Jude patient Woods with his mom, Ashley
Help our families focus on their sick child, not medical bills.
When you donate monthly, your gift means families, like Woods', 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.
Meet more patients
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Meet Mia
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Meet Ashtyn
When Ashtyn’s family learned she had a type of cancerous brain tumor called a medulloblastoma, they turned to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
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Reid's big day on the green
This 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®.
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Halloween Traditions for Family Fun
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Meet Corbin
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Meet Eleanor
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Meet Brinley
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Meet Abraham
After a CT scan revealed Abraham had a mass on his brain, identified as a cancerous brain tumor called a medulloblastoma, his family turned to St. Jude for help.
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Meet Riku
While treatment for medulloblastoma is a difficult journey for 4-year-old Riku, his parents, Noriko and Jun, are there to give him strength and support along the way.
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Meet Mayela
Mayela is an extrovert who loves to play and have fun. She recently finished treatment for acute myeloid leukemia.
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Meet Yamila
Yamila experienced cancer three times and is now celebrating four years of remission. Thanks to St. Jude and supporters like you, her journey as a musician, avid animal lover and cancer survivor continues.
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Meet Alana
Alana didn't let a cancer diagnosis get in the way of her dreams for the future. Neither did St. Jude.
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Meet Luis
Like many boys his age, Luis wanted to be a soccer player when he grew up. But then he was diagnosed with cancer. Now he wants to help kids like him.
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How St. Jude patients spent their time during quarantine
While difficult at times, quarantining during COVID-19 has allowed St. Jude patients and their families, while respecting social distance, to let their creativity flourish in ways that has brought them closer together. See how some of our patients spent their time during quarantine.