When Kyler developed a small bump near his left eye, his parents thought it was a mosquito bite. But a couple of days later, Kyler’s eye turned inward and the swelling near the bump grew. His parents took him to the doctor, where he diagnosed with an ear infection.
“The swelling continued, and the eye was worsening,” remembered his mom, Latresa. She took him back to the doctor, where Kyler underwent tests.
The results were devastating: Kyler had stage IV, rhabdomyosarcoma a type of cancerous tumor. Latresa never imagined her son had cancer. “It affects so many people,” she said, “but you just would never imagine that you would be getting that phone call about your child.”
St. Jude patient Kyler with his grandma, Latresa
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.
Kyler was referred to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital right away, where his treatment plan includes radiation therapy and chemotherapy. “He has a great team,” said Latresa. “They're very thorough, and they're good at explaining everything that's going on with him.”
An active, outgoing boy, Kyler loves hot dogs, riding his bike and playing with his puppy, Smoky. “You can't tell he's a sick baby,” said Latresa. “As parents, that's how we're able to get through it. No one wants to see their baby laying around and not playing, but he's everywhere.”
“It's kind of like what the commercial says, you don't have to focus on a bill, you just have to focus on your baby getting better,” Latresa said.
They are performing miracles every day for children.
Get to know St. Jude
What makes St. Jude unique?
Learn about our lifesaving mission and how you can support the families of St. Jude.
Our patient stories
St. Jude patients have cancer and other life-threatening diseases, but they also dance, travel, compete and so much more.
