Meet Zahaan
age 8, brain tumor
Zahaan has always demonstrated a remarkable concern for others. Even as a little boy, he has been known to go to his piggy bank to buy food for those in need.
And he donated his hair to a charitable organization for sick kids just a month before he himself was diagnosed with cancer.
Zahaan had been having severe headaches, then episodic vomiting. His pediatric neurologist ordered an MRI to rule out the worst possibilities.
Instead, the scan revealed a tumor, a type of brain cancer called medulloblastoma. Zahaan underwent surgery to remove the tumor at a hospital near his home.

Although other treatment options were available in their home country of Singapore, the family sought a referral to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
St. Jude is home to the first proton therapy center in the world dedicated solely to children with cancer.
Proton therapy targets cancers while minimizing damage to healthy tissue and organs, which in turn can reduce the risk of treatment-related side effects.
In addition to proton therapy, Zahaan received chemotherapy at St. Jude.

Now 8 years old and back at home, he continues to exhibit a heart for others. He recently collected donations for St. Jude at his 8th birthday party.
Whatever happens, something good will come out of this, I believe Zahaan has a bigger purpose.
Zahaan's dad
Help our families focus on their sick child, not medical bills.
When you donate monthly, your gift means families, like Zahaan's, 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
-
Meet Tina
Tina was referred to St. Jude after she was found to have a brain tumor. St. Jude has given her family hope.
-
Meet Charlotte
Charlotte and her family face a long road to recovery following her treatment for a rare disease called aplastic anemia.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Meet Azalea
When Azalea was found to have rhabdomyosarcoma, her parents, Simone and Ricardo, traveled from Jamaica to St. Jude so Azalea would receive the best care.
-
Meet Kenlie & Jaycee
Kenlie and Jaycee had a lot in common-they attended the same school and loved to make up dance routines and joke around. And they both fought cancer at St. Jude.
-
Meet Jesús
In June 2015, Jesús’ family learned he suffered from a type of soft tissue cancer. “I’m thankful that someplace like St. Jude exists,” says his mom.
-
Meet Kaylee
Kaylee has a big, beautiful smile, and loves to dance with her parents and sister. When tests revealed she suffered from a brain tumor, her family was devastated.
-
Meet Phoenix
Christmas Day plans for Phoenix’s family didn’t include a life-altering trip to the hospital. But at St. Jude, this close-knit family has been given hope.
-
Meet Sebastian
Nothing prepared Sebastian's family for the day they learned he suffered from a rare brain tumor. “We’re grateful there is a place like St. Jude,” said his mom.
-
Meet Matthew
Matthew seemed to have a cold he just couldn't shake. But when a chest X-ray showed a severely enlarged thymus, he was rushed to St. Jude by helicopter.
-
Sparrow's Story
Sparrow is a quiet, cautious baby who loves to cuddle. Her favorite person is her big brother, Jace.
-
Meet Maryelle
Maryelle was diagnosed with a rare disorder that left her family with little hope.
-
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.
-
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.