James' story
Though he’s still a young child, James has a family history with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital that reaches decades into the past, long before his diagnosis with metastatic neuroblastoma as a baby in 2021.
In the 1960s, James' great-great-grandfather was an early member of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude, helping to raise money for the hospital in its infancy.
Decades later, James’ parents volunteered at the St. Jude housing facility that would later lodge them as a patient family.
The whole time we were over there volunteering, I never imagined I'd be back a decade later with a child that was receiving treatment at St. Jude.
Rob, St. Jude patient James' dad
St. Jude patient James with his dad
James' treatment at St. Jude
Following his neuroblastoma diagnosis, baby James successfully underwent extensive chemotherapy prior to surgery to resect his adrenal tumor at St. Jude and returned home with no evidence of disease.
Unfortunately, in February 2023, imaging at James’ 12-month off therapy visit showed his cancer had returned and spread in his spine and legs.
His family turned again to St. Jude, where James immediately restarted chemotherapy with antibody therapy.
He also had surgery and proton beam radiotherapy before receiving a stem cell transplant and additional chemotherapy before returning home.
St. Jude patient James
St. Jude will always have a very special place in our heart. My great-grandfather had no idea the impact what he did in the 1960s would have here in the 2020s. It's people like him that make St. Jude what it is today.
Amy, St. Jude patient James' mom
Where is James now?
Today, James is doing well. He has started preschool and is learning to ride a bike with training wheels.
“He’s still very sweet and smart, and he is becoming a lot more social with his peers,” said his mom, Amy.
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