At 2 years old, Eduardo is a little ball of exuberance who loves to run everywhere and play peek-a-boo.
When Eduardo was only 6 months old, his belly became noticeably swollen. His mom knew something was wrong. Eduardo’s parents took him to his local pediatrician in Dominican Republic, who performed an X-ray that revealed a mass the size of a pineapple.
Eduardo’s family was devastated.
My baby was very sick. He was refusing to eat and he stopped moving his arms and legs. There just seemed to be no hope.
— Emely, Eduardo's mom
Eduardo and his family were referred to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital where he was diagnosed with liver cancer. Eduardo’s treatment plan included surgery to remove the mass and chemotherapy.
Families, like Eduardo's, will never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food.
St. Jude patient Eduardo with his mom
And thanks to St. Jude, his mom is very positive about Eduardo’s outcome.
St. Jude is a piece of heaven on earth. It’s great to come to St. Jude and feel among family.
— Emely, Eduardo's mom
St. Jude patient Eduardo with his mom
Meet more patients
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Meet Aspen
Aspen was not yet two when diagnosed with neuroblastoma. She was treated in the Philippines but six months later, the cancer was spreading so she was referred to St. Jude.
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Meet Ava
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Meet Avyan
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Meet Ay'Den
Ay'Den is a kind boy with an easy smile. When he collapsed, his family was afraid he had COVID-19. Ay'Den would be diagnosed with leukemia and referred to St. Jude.
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Meet Eli
At just 6 years old, Eli was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. His family was referred to St. Jude for his treatment and Eli underwent surgery to remove the tumor and a portion of his tibia.
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Meet Eri'Elle
Eri’Elle was just two years old when her troubles started. Her mother took her to a pediatrician and insisted they run tests to get to the bottom of her baby’s symptoms.
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Meet Gabe
When the lights on the Christmas tree hurt Gabe’s eyes, his mom knew something was wrong.
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Meet Mikayla
Over Christmas 2020, something was wrong with then one-year-old Mikayla. Referred to St. Jude, her cancer was identified as acute myeloid leukemia. Mikayla successfully underwent chemotherapy.
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Meet Patient Lucas
Around Thanksgiving of 2020, three-year-old Lucas was complaining of headaches. His parents thought he just wanted attention. An MRI indicated something more serious.
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Meet Sariyah
In the summer of 2020, photos taken of St. Jude patient Sariyah by her mother showed signs of cancerous tumors in both eyes at the age of 18 months.