Ava appears in a St. Jude commercial, with her mother talking about her daughter's St. Jude story.
Ava's story
Around Easter 2022, Ava’s mom, Lakesha, noticed swelling on her daughter’s neck. At the pediatrician, bloodwork and an x-ray appeared normal.
But after a scan of Ava’s abdomen was also performed, Lakesha received terrible news. “I’m like, cancer? She is not hurting. She’s running up and down. She’s the same old Ava. She’s fine.”
But Ava had neuroblastoma, a cancer that arises from nerve cells. It was Stage 4.
St. Jude patient Ava
St. Jude patient Ava and her mom
“It was the worst day,” said Ava. “Mom was crying. I was sad. I was scared.”
The hospital near their home in the Bahamas was not equipped to offer 6-year-old Ava treatment, so her doctor referred her to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
St. Jude is hope, when others don’t seem to think there could be any way. It’s a long road. It’s hard. But St. Jude has gotten us through it.
- Lakesha, Ava's mom
Families, like Ava's, will never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — so they can focus on helping their child live.
Vivacious Ava is “outgoing, outspoken, very smart, catches on very fast,” said her mom.
Kids have a chance to play, to laugh. They don’t just make it all about cancer. St. Jude tries to give them a normal day, a normal life, and I love that.
- Lakesha, Ava's mom
Your support allows St. Jude to provide treatments to kids like Ava at no cost. We won't stop until no child — anywhere — dies from cancer.
You might also be interested in ...
-
Read about more St. Jude patients
Be inspired by stories about our patients on their journeys from diagnosis to treatment of childhood cancer and other pediatric diseases treated at St. Jude.
-
See more ways to give
Find ways to give to St. Jude. Make a donation, memorialize a loved one, give through work or include St. Jude in your will.
-
Find ways to get involved
See the ways you can fundraise for St. Jude or participate in an event to help save the lives of kids with cancer and other life-threatening diseases.