Meet Avery

Avery was diagnosed with sickle cell disease soon after birth, and she and her family have found hope at St. Jude.

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St. Jude sickle cell disease patient Avery

 
 
 
St. Jude patient Avery with her mom

St. Jude patient Avery with her mom

 

Avery's story

Avery’s mom, Valentine, can’t forget the day of her daughter’s kindergarten school trip to the zoo. Avery woke up early and excited for the adventure with her friends. A few hours later, everything changed.

 
 

The teacher called and said Avery, who was diagnosed with sickle cell soon after birth, was in severe pain. Valentine picked up Avery and took her home. “She cried all the way home, and it broke my heart,” Valentine recalled. Valentine gave her pain meds at home.

 
St. Jude patient Avery and her mom embrace.
 
 
St. Jude patient Avery
 

It was not the first time that Avery had been in a lot of pain. Throughout her life, the little girl had received IV fluids, blood transfusions and strong pain medications like morphine to manage the symptoms of sickle cell disease. 

Sickle cell disease is a group of blood disorders that prevent the normal flow of blood in the body because of the effect on the hemoglobin within red blood cells. 

 
 

Avery received a bone marrow transplant at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the early part of 2023. Her donor was one of her older sisters. 

She has more energy and is playing.

Avery's mom, Valentine

 
St. Jude patient Avery drawing.
 
 
St. Jude patient Gideon looks at a book while sitting on a chair.
 

Valentine said since the transplant Avery has not suffered any effects of sickle cell disease or needed any transfusions. Valentine said she looks forward to watching Avery grow. 

 “St. Jude has given us the hope that she can be a child and enjoy life like any other 7-year-old,” Valentine said. “With St. Jude we can hope, and we can dream.

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Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — so they can focus on helping their child live.

 
 
St. Jude patient Avery

St. Jude patient Avery

 

When you support St. Jude, you can help make cures possible for kids with cancer and other life-threatening diseases, like sickle cell. Together, we can save more lives.

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