Shining bright since 1962 because of survivors like you.
St. Jude is proud to honor its survivors, from the newly diagnosed to those who have been with us since the hospital opened in 1962. One way we do that is with an annual Survivor Box.
This year’s box will be mailed in the spring. It will arrive near National Cancer Survivors Day, which takes place in June. That day celebrates survivors. It also highlights their medical challenges and the importance of research and education.
Past year highlights
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In 1962, the words “cure” and “cancer” were rarely mentioned in the same sentence. Then St. Jude opened its doors, and hope stepped in.
At St. Jude, we partner with patients and families to make the impossible possible. Today, because of our work, more than 80% of children with cancer in the U.S. can be cured. We continue working to increase survival rates here and around the globe.
Happy 60th anniversary, St. Jude! Here’s to many more discoveries made—many more lives saved.
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In 1962, 13-year-old Dwight Tosh dreamed of being a famous ball player. He hoped to hit a game-winning home run in the World Series. Or, make a dramatic dunk in a basketball game.
Then Tosh found out he had cancer. He became patient No. 17 at a newly opened hospital in Memphis.
At St. Jude, Tosh and his parents found hope.
“The day I arrived, they literally carried me through the front doors,” he says. “When I left, I walked out on my own.”
Tosh grew up, married his high school sweetheart, and had two children. After a 37-year career in the Arkansas State Police, he was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives, where he serves today.
In 2007, Tosh became the first person to enroll in the St. Jude LIFE long-term follow-up study.
“I’m always appreciative for the opportunity to have lived the life that I’ve been allowed to live, thanks to St. Jude,” he says. “My hope and prayer would be that every child at St. Jude would someday be able to do what I’ve been able to do—to explain, 60 years later, how St. Jude helped them when it seemed there was no hope at all.”
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Hayley Arceneaux’s cancer journey began nearly 20 years ago, when she traveled to St. Jude for treatment of bone cancer.
When she grew up, she returned to the hospital as a physician assistant. Last fall, Hayley joined Inspiration4, the world’s first all-civilian mission to space. She became the youngest American to orbit Earth, and the first person to do so with a prosthesis. She also helped raise funds for St. Jude. To honor this historic mission, St. Jude has named its newest building the Inspiration4 Advanced Research Center.
Hayley shows us all that for childhood cancer survivors, the possibilities are limitless.
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Thousands of travelers pass through the Memphis International Airport each month. But not all of them are VIPs. You’ll feel like one when you visit the airport’s colorful new St. Jude Lounge.
It’s a place of privacy and serenity, open only to St. Jude patients and families traveling for St. Jude appointments. The lounge is staffed by hospital employees. It features a play area, kitchen area, a quiet room, restrooms, and tables and chairs. During your visit, your family can enjoy beverages, light snacks, toys, books, games, and TVs.
Put your feet up and relax: St. Jude is here to help.
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St. Jude researchers helped to study a COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5–11. Our scientists looked at side effects and antibody responses to the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine.
Scientists found that the vaccine was safe for children ages 5–11. Kids who took part in the study had fewer side effects than adults did. The most common side effects were injection pain and tiredness. None of the children who received the vaccine were hospitalized for COVID-19. The scientists found that the vaccine was 90% effective.
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What color would you choose to illustrate COVID-19? Pandemic pink or vaccine violet? Perhaps facemask fuchsia? Choose your favorite color and learn about COVID-19 vaccines.
St. Jude experts have designed coloring books and activity books to help children, tweens and teens understand COVID-19 and the vaccines.
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HPV, or human papillomavirus, is a common virus linked to 6 types of cancer. There’s an easy way to prevent it: the HPV vaccine.
Childhood cancer survivors are at an increased risk of second cancers. They also have a higher risk of developing HPV cancers. It is important to protect against HPV infections and HPV cancers in adulthood. Talk to your child’s oncologist or primary care provider about HPV vaccination.
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Have you ever wondered what scientists have learned from the clinical studies (clinical trials) that you took part in? Now you can find out.
When scientists publish papers showing the results of clinical trials, we share those findings online. Visit stjude.org/clinical-trials-results.
If you do not see the study you entered, check back from time to time. Sometimes it takes a while to complete the many stages of a research project. So, it may take years for scientists to publish their findings. In the meantime, please know that your involvement in those studies will help children today and in the future.
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The Together by St. Jude™ web-based resource offers information that you can trust.
Learn about late effects, ways to stay healthy physically and emotionally, and how to handle practical concerns such as school and work.
Visit the Life After Cancer section of together.stjude.org to learn more.
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The St. Jude mission sets us apart from all other hospitals. During the past 6 years, the hospital has made incredible gains in many areas. Achievements of the 2016–21 St. Jude Strategic Plan included:
- Increasing the number of patients in our clinical trials
- Recruiting world-class faculty and staff
- Enhancing lab research
- Investing in technology
- Expanding the campus
Now, St. Jude is stronger than ever. We are ready to do more.
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The 2022–27 St. Jude Strategic Plan aims to accelerate progress globally. That means more research and enhanced patient care. It means working together to change the lives of children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases around the world.
We are investing $12.9 billion over the next 6 years to accomplish this plan. It’s the largest investment in the 60-year history of St. Jude. Through this exciting plan, we will transform science and medicine in the U.S. and around the globe.
Research Highlights
- Survival improves about 20% for children newly diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma when they are treated with a molecule made on the St. Jude campus.
- Fourteen St. Jude scientists are named to the 2021 list of the world’s most highly cited researchers for the past decade.
- St. Jude creates a global registry to study how the COVID-19 pandemic affects children with cancer. Results show that kids with cancer are more affected by COVID-19 than children without cancer.
- Scientists discover that each patient’s cancer tells a unique story. Genomic sequencing can reveal secrets hidden in the DNA. It can also change a patient’s diagnosis and treatment.
- St. Jude researchers find that almost all retinoblastoma survivors function within the normal range of learning and life skills by age 10.
- Social and economic factors play a major role in learning and memory in learning and memory for kids with cancer.
- St. Jude scientists find that bone marrow transplant recipients are more likely than the general public or cancer patients to develop severe COVID-19 and die.
What's next?
Rest, Relax, and Recharge: Progress continues on the St. Jude Family Commons, which should be ready for use by fall of 2022. This area will be located on the second floor of the Patient Care Center. It will be an entirely treatment-free floor open only to patients and families. The Family Commons will give you a place to rest, relax, and recharge. Patients and families have been involved in nearly every aspect of this new space.
In the Family Commons, you will be able to snack, make travel plans and handle basic needs. Kids will also be able to attend classes in a 10,895-square-foot school. St. Jude science experts will offer fun classes in this beautiful new school area.
A Village on the Horizon
An impressive building is rising just west of Tri Delta Place. The Domino’s Village will be a six-story, 288,998-squarefoot housing facility for patients and families.
This residence will include 140 units for short-term and long-term stays. A foot bridge across North Third Street will connect the facility to campus. Patients and families have offered input into the planning and design of the building. The Domino’s Village is scheduled to open in spring 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions
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If you are an active or former patient of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, you should have received an annual Survivor Box. Please complete the Survivor Box Replacement form. Replacements are shipped within 4-6 weeks.
Your contact information will be used to update our patient records, which is used for hospital communications and will not be used for any other purposes.
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If an item was missing or broken in your Survivor Box, please contact us at survivorbox@stjude.org. If you need a replacement enamel survivor pin, please fill out the Replacement form. Replacements are shipped within 4-6 weeks.
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If you need a replacement enamel survivor pin, please fill out the Pin Replacement form. Replacements are shipped within 4-6 weeks.
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If you are an active or former patient of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, please complete the Update Your Contact Information form.
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After reviewing the Survivors Day event, we found that only 3% of our survivors and their families were able to participate each year. In an effort to share the educational and memorable materials with a larger share of our survivor families, we developed the Survivor Box.
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While we do not have additional copies to distribute to large groups, we can offer a downloadable pdf of the booklet for personal printing. We have also included links to the educational booklet above.
