![St. Jude patient Aspen smiling. against a wwhite background](/content/sites/www/en_US/home/about-st-jude/stories/meet-our-patients/meet-aspen/jcr:content/par-1/cnt_row_964002775_co/par-1/cnt_column_1633661226/par-1/image_v2.img.16.medium.jpg/1715103629784.jpg)
Aspen was only a year and ten months when she was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma.
She underwent lengthy treatment in the Philippines, using a protocol developed and shared by St. Jude doctors and researchers. But six months later, the cancer was spreading again.
With a referral to St. Jude, her family travelled to the United States for the first time.
When they told us that everything will be free, it was like a thorn was taken away. At first it’s unbelievable. We didn’t expect anything like this. We were so grateful.
- Mark, Aspen's dad
![St. Jude patient Aspen with her family pose for a portrait.](/content/sites/www/en_US/home/about-st-jude/stories/meet-our-patients/meet-aspen/jcr:content/par-1/cnt_row_copy_copy_co/par-1/cnt_column_copy_1126/par-1/image_v2_229195834.img.16.medium.jpg/1715103694353.jpg)
St. Jude patient Aspen with her family
![A circle icon with a slash over a dollar sign, which indicates families never receive a bill.](/content/sites/www/en_US/home/about-st-jude/stories/meet-our-patients/meet-aspen/jcr:content/par-1/cnt_row_copy_copy_co_2116229260/par-1/cnt_column/par-1/cnt_image.img.16.medium.png/1696796452093.png)
Families, like Aspen's, will never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — so they can focus on helping their child live.
It changed my perspective about life. There’s so much kindness in the world. It’s inspiring in a way that it challenges us, the recipients of this kindness, to give back.
- Aspen's mom
![St. Jude patient Aspen smiling and receiving kisses on her cheeks from her parents.](/content/sites/www/en_US/home/about-st-jude/stories/meet-our-patients/meet-aspen/jcr:content/par-1/cnt_row_copy_copy_co_432274250/par-1/cnt_column_copy_1126/par-1/image_v2.img.16.medium.jpg/1695928532039.jpg)
St. Jude patient Aspen
with her parents
![St. Jude patient Adalyn with her mom](/content/sites/www/en_US/home/about-st-jude/stories/meet-our-patients/meet-aspen/jcr:content/par-1/cnt_row_copy_4721501/par-1/cnt_column_copy_1126/par-1/image_v2_copy.img.16.medium.jpg/1705422146656.jpg)
Even while undergoing cancer treatment at St. Jude, Aspen remained bubbly, happy and playful.
But her parents found they were changed.
Now the focus is on living each day to the fullest, with a sense of gratitude.
St. Jude saved us. It saved the family. St. Jude is a gift.
- Aspen's dad
![St. Jude patient Aspen receiving a hug from her father.](/content/sites/www/en_US/home/about-st-jude/stories/meet-our-patients/meet-aspen/jcr:content/par-1/cnt_row_copy_1489446/par-1/cnt_column_153263963/par-1/image_v2.img.16.medium.jpg/1674159792367.jpg)
St. Jude patient Aspen with her father
When you support St. Jude, you can help make cures possible for kids with cancer, like Aspen. Together, we can save more lives.
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