Meet Hayden

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St. Jude patient Hayden wears glasses and sits in a yellow chair.

St. Jude patient Hayden

 
 
red background with patient art stars, hearts, branches in a dark red.
St. Jude patient Hayden is laughing while being held by his mother and father.

St. Jude patient Hayden with his parents

 

Hayden's story

Hayden is back in Jamaica after eye cancer treatment, but he often asks his parents when they will go “home” to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital where he received medical care.

 
 

St. Jude was the only home the 2-year-old had known since the summer of 2023. That’s when he was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a cancer of the retina, the thin membrane on the inside back of the eye that is stimulated by light. 

 
St. Jude patient Hayden, who has retinoblastoma, works on a colorful painting.
 
 
St. Jude patient Hayden sits in a colorful room and holds a drawing above his head.
 

“St. Jude is like a playpen for him,” said his mom, Terrian, noting that the fun activities offered at the hospital makes things less scary for children. “The staff is wonderful because they know how to correspond with the kids.”

 
 

Terrian said hearing the diagnosis brought her to tears, but she felt hope when Hayden was referred to St. Jude. There, Terrian said, she and her husband received a thorough explanation of retinoblastoma and what Hayden’s treatment would entail. 

Hayden underwent surgery to remove his right eye and now wears a prosthetic. He finished treatment and returned home in early 2024. Terrian said she is grateful for St. Jude for not only treating her son, but also for providing her family a place to stay.

Read More About St. Jude Research

 
St. Jude patient Hayden sits cross-legged on a stool.
 
 

Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — so they can focus on helping their child live.

 
 
St. Jude patient Hayden wears glasses and sits in his mother's lap.

St. Jude patient Hayden and his mom

 

St. Jude has done a lot for me, and not just for me but for other families as well.

St. Jude patient Hayden's mother

 

Hayden will start school in September 2024. He enjoys playing with trucks, singing and playing with his cousins.

 
St. Jude patient Hayden plays on the floor.
 
 
 
St. Jude patient Hayden is kissed on both cheeks by his parents, who embrace him.

St. Jude patient Hayden with his parents

 

St. Jude won’t stop until no child dies from cancer, no matter where they live.

Join our St. Jude family. This holiday season, we need you.

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