In May 2018, Emma developed headaches – “really bad ones,” she said – and nausea. Her parents, Kevin and Evie, assumed it was from a virus. Emma was in and out of the pediatrician’s office and even had her eyes checked, but no one could pinpoint the cause of her headaches.
Finally, a gastrointestinal doctor ordered an MRI, to make sure all the bases were covered. The results showed a mass on Emma’s brain, identified as a type of brain cancer called medulloblastoma. After surgery to remove the tumor, Emma was referred to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children.
Emma’s treatment included proton therapy and chemotherapy. “St. Jude provides comfort. In this situation, you’re anxious, so much is unknown, and here, that goes away,” Kevin said. “You know you’re in the best place, and you know your child is getting the best care.”
Some of the best doctors in the world are here, and what they focus on every day is curing kids.
Now finished with treatment, Emma visits St. Jude for regular scans. She’s excited to get back to all the things she loves. Before her diagnosis, Emma kept busy with softball, gymnastics and cheerleading. As a matter of fact, just days before her family learned she had brain cancer, Emma played in a softball tournament.
“She’s a girly-girl who will also get in the dirt,” said Evie. “Emma and her twin brother love riding four-wheelers and playing outside together.”
Meet more patients
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Meet Alejandro
Ines and Alejandro think of their son Alejandro every day. Their active and curious boy would have been near adulthood by now. They honor his memory through their commitment to St. Jude. Read more here.
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Meet Camila
Camila was diagnosed three days before her 3rd birthday with a solid cancerous tumor of the kidney. Read her story.
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Meet Avery
Avery was diagnosed with sickle cell disease soon after birth and she received a bone marrow transplant at St. Jude in early 2023. Her donor was one of her older sisters.
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Meet Misheel
Misheel was diagnosed with brain cancer and was referred to St. Jude, where she has received treatment, which included chemotherapy and radiation therapy. She has refused to let her illness keep her from spreading joy to others.
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Meet Janelle
When Janelle was just over a year old, her family noticed that she began to regress in her development. Medical tests revealed that Janelle had cancer.
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Meet Yazleemar
Yazleemar is an outgoing and expressive teenager. In 2012, Yazleemar was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a rare cancer. St. Jude offered more than treatment to her and her family.
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Meet Gideon
After Gideon was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma, he was referred to St. Jude for immediate treatment.
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Meet Felicity
With a diagnosis of 5 tumors in her brain and spine, Felicity is facing a struggle, but you wouldn't know it by the constant smile on her face.
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Meet Charlie
Diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma in his shoulder, Charlie was referred to St. Jude then underwent chemotherapy and surgery to replace a cancerous bone with titanium.
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Meet Ava
At 6 years old, Ava had a lump on her neck and tests showed she had more lumps in her belly. Tests revealed that she had a cancerous tumor and was referred to St. Jude.
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Meet Kamryn
At 2 years old, Kamryn's bloodwork indicated he had a form of blood cancer called acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Doctors referred him to St. Jude where he would undergo more than 2 years of chemotherapy while growing to love activities like Music Therapy.
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Meet Luxe
As a kindergartener, Luxe’s legs became so covered in bruises that her parents took her to the doctor. Luxe was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia.
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Meet Eliza
Eliza’s pediatrician referred her to an ophthalmologist after testing her eyes. In turn, she was referred to St. Jude as a tumor was visible in her right eye.
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Meet Rinoa
Rinoa had an MRI due to headaches and, later, double vision. Doctors found a cancerous brain tumor called medulloblastoma and was soon referred to St. Jude.
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Meet Adalyn
Adalyn had stomachaches that came and went with episodes of severe pain. At the ER, doctors found a large mass above her kidney, stage-4 high-risk neuroblastoma.