In January 2018, tests revealed Johan had acute lymphoblastic leukemia. “It felt like the world was falling on top of me,” said Johan’s mother, Jessica. “When they said cancer, I thought he could die.”
Johan’s doctors referred him to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. 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 percent, and we won’t stop until no child dies from cancer.
St. Jude patient Johan with his mom, Jessica
At St. Jude, Johan will undergo two-and-a-half years of chemotherapy. “From the moment that I walked into St. Jude, I changed as a person,” Jessica said. “The people at St. Jude do everything in their power to help you overcome this situation. St. Jude has been a miracle for us, and Johan is responding extremely well to his treatment.”
Johan is in first grade, and his favorite subject is math. He’s one of five boys in his family. Johan loves sports, but baseball is by far his favorite, and he hopes to one day play in the major leagues. “We are eternally grateful for everyone who supports St. Jude,” said Jessica. “They’re doing tremendous work for all the families at St. Jude.”
We are eternally grateful for everyone who supports St. Jude. They’re doing tremendous work for all the families at St. Jude.
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