Six-year-old Zara Ali is a gymnast. A swimmer. An artist. A basketball player. She has even learned to ride a bike without training wheels. But Zara is especially proud of one recent accomplishment: She completed an MRI scan without general anesthesia.
When Zara was 3, her mom and dad noticed she was not growing as quickly as she should have. Tests showed a rare brain tumor called craniopharyngioma.
Zara traveled to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where she had surgery and 30 proton beam radiation treatments. For proton beam therapy, patients must lie still so the beam targets the tumor, sparing healthy tissue. Zara needed general anesthesia to help her stay in her treatment position during those sessions.
Recent research has shown that frequent sedation and anesthesia may impact brain development in young children. So, Zara’s parents and care team suggested she try doing her follow-up MRIs without anesthesia.
Zara was up for the challenge.

Zara’s mom sits near the scanner to provide extra reassurance while St. Jude staff monitor the scan.
Child life specialist Libby Gaitskill used a doll to explain the MRI process. The little girl looked at a mock MRI scanner and listened to a recording of the loud sounds made by an MRI. Then she climbed inside the mock scanner to practice.
“The mock MRI helped Zara understand what would be involved,” says her mom, Umber Khan, MD. “We had tried to explain it to Zara, but being in the mock scanner helped a ton. When it was time for the real MRI, she just jumped in. She was very comfortable with it.”
Gaitskill says patients of all ages use the mock MRI to prepare for scans.
“Whenever we feel prepared to do something, it helps us cope better,” Gaitskill says.
Zara watched a movie during the MRI scan. She and her care team celebrated afterward with high fives.
Her mom says the experience may set the stage for future successes.
“Now that she’s done it once,” Khan says, “I think she’ll be able to do it every time.”


Zara and her care team celebrate her MRI scan without anesthesia.
Visit Together by St. Jude™ to find information and support for families facing childhood cancer and other illnesses.
More patient stories
-
Melanoma: A skin cancer that does not always need the sun
Alice remains confident, courageous, and strong in her journey to push her melanoma into remission. Read her story.
-
Genetic Testing Provides Answers
After Davis is diagnosed with a rare and aggressive brain tumor, his family finds answers through genetic testing. Learn more.
-
Caring for the Mind, Body, and Spirit
Yike Huang uses art as part of her treatment to improve not only her physical well-being but also her mental and emotional well-being. Learn more.
-
Meet Dr. Bradley Muller
But Bradley Muller, MD, an Instructor in the Department of Immunology, approaches this work from a unique perspective. Muller is both a medical doctor who takes care of children with cancer and a laboratory researcher searching for new and better treatments. He’s also a childhood cancer survivor.
-
Meet Dr. Kelsey Bertrand
But Bradley Muller, MD, an Instructor in the Department of Immunology, approaches this work from a unique perspective. Muller is both a medical doctor who takes care of children with cancer and a laboratory researcher searching for new and better treatments. He’s also a childhood cancer survivor.
-
Finding Light in the Darkness
Friendships and memory-making activities helped Grace Hilton during her cancer treatment. Read more about Grace’s story.
-
Virtual reality helps Nancy Rios understand her son Yariel’s surgery for Ewing sarcoma
Learn how virtual reality is being used at St. Jude to help educate patients and families about surgical procedures such as that used to treat Ewing sarcoma.
-
St. Jude LIFE Participant Brings Hope to Others
Childhood cancer survivor inspires hope in others
-
Thanks to a St. Jude clinical trial, Olivia and her family are living “in the now”
Over a decade of research brings a treatment to the forefront for children with low-grade gliomas. For Olivia Thatcher, that treatment came at the right time.
-
Writing her story helps Indiana teen process her emotions
Through the St. Jude ChronCan study, Jinger Vincent uses creative writing to process her cancer experience.
-
PFCC offers mom a way to help others, give back
Caregiver reflects on giving back to St. Jude
-
Challenges Can’t Keep Jolly Down
Jolly Green tackles severe aplastic anemia thanks to St. Jude, faith, and family. Read his story.
-
Patient reflects on 60th anniversary as childhood cancer survivor
Patient reflects on her 60th anniversary as a childhood cancer survivor
-
Patient finds support, help and hope for Friedrich’s ataxia
Taylor Hurdle is taking part in a clinical trial for Friedreich’s ataxia at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
-
Finding Hope in Clinical Trials
A medulloblastoma clinical trial offered hope to 7-year-old Kinlee Johnson and her family. Learn more.