Lydia has an unusual hobby for a kid her age: reading scholarly articles in medical journals. But not just any articles. She’s interested in those authored by Dr. Gajjar, the doctor – along with nurses, researchers and others at St. Jude – working to save her life.
In 2019, when school let out for the summer, Lydia’s parents noticed she was having trouble walking. On July 11, an MRI showed a mass in her brain and five days later she underwent surgery at a hospital near her home. Her oncologist referred them to St. Jude right away.
Dr. Amar Gajjar (right)
Dr. Amar Gajjar, Director of the Neuro-Oncology Division at St. Jude, is researching innovative protocols for the treatment of childhood brain tumors, especially medulloblastoma. Lydia has the WNT subtype of medulloblastoma tumor – the least common, and the most treatable.
To say the cancer is treatable isn’t to say the treatment is easy. At St. Jude, Lydia has undergone a second resection surgery, proton therapy and chemotherapy.
Families, like Lydia's, never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food.
Lydia with her mom
I look at her lab results, especially her kidney function, and I'm like, how does somebody go through this chemotherapy and end up with perfectly functioning kidneys? And it's the protocol that was developed, that Dr. Gajjar did, so she will not have kidney damage.
She will not have major hearing loss. She won't have those side effects. It's more than just saving the child. It's making sure they can have a fulfilling life. It’s pretty incredible.
—Emily, Lydia's mom
Your donation helps give kids like Lydia the chance to grow up.
Meet more patients
-
Meet Avyan
Avyan carries himself with confidence and strength beyond his years. His manner has given fortitude to his family as they walk through an unimaginable reality.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Meet Mikayla
Mikayla is a talented fifth-grader. She loves theater, drawing, coloring and singing in choir.