Meet Brieanna

age 11, soft tissue cancer

 

Brieanna loved to spend time outdoors. She liked going to the mountains to hike and fish. 

In March 2017, Brieanna’s family learned she suffered from a type of soft tissue cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma. As soon as word of Brieanna’s diagnosis reached her family’s social network, a friend who is also a passionate fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital began urging the family to seek a referral to St. Jude. 

 

Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% since it opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90%, and we won’t stop until no child dies from cancer. 

 

St. Jude patient Brieanna with her mom

At St. Jude, Brieanna’s treatment lasted approximately 54 weeks and included surgery, chemotherapy and proton therapy. 

Her parents didn't have to worry about how to pay for it. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. 

 

St. Jude patient Brieanna with her physician, Wendy Bourland, D.O.

“All of the doctors and nurses, you can tell they truly care about the kids they’re treating,” said Brieanna’s mom at the time. “You can tell the people who work here genuinely love what they do and love these children.” 

Editor’s Note: We regret to inform you that Brieanna passed away in March 2021. 

 

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