Meet Rylee
Rylee was referred to St. Jude for treatment for neuroblastoma. Rylee’s resilience and sunny disposition earned her the nickname “Smiley Rylee” at St. Jude.
![St. Jude patient Rylee with a pink bow standing and smiling at her mom.](/content/sites/www/en_US/home/about-st-jude/stories/meet-our-patients/patient-rylee-in-st-jude-commercial/jcr:content/par-1/cnt_row_copy_copy_13/par-1/cnt_column_copy_copy/par-1/image_v2.img.16.medium.jpg/1738622978447.jpg)
St. Jude patient Rylee with her mom
![St. Jude patient Rylee drinking from her bottle between her parents.](/content/sites/www/en_US/home/about-st-jude/stories/meet-our-patients/patient-rylee-in-st-jude-commercial/jcr:content/par-1/cnt_row_copy_copy_13_963568909/par-1/cnt_column_copy/par-1/image_v2_copy_copy.img.16.medium.jpg/1738361859940.jpg)
St. Jude patient Rylee at St. Jude with her parents
Rylee's story
Kaitlin and Miles were living their dream. They had a beautiful 10-month-old daughter, Rylee, and a home they built on 17 acres of Tennessee land. Miles, with Kaitlin’s support, had pursued his passion for tournament fishing. Life was good, filled with the simple joys of family and nature.
But then, life cast a shadow over their serene waters. They noticed unexplained black eyes on their happy baby girl. Concerned, they took Rylee to the pediatrician. An ultrasound revealed a growth in her right adrenal gland. The diagnosis: neuroblastoma, a cancer that grows from cells in the nervous system.
![St. Jude patient Rylee is embraced and kissed by her dad while sitting at a medical consultation.](/content/sites/www/en_US/home/about-st-jude/stories/meet-our-patients/patient-rylee-in-st-jude-commercial/jcr:content/par-1/cnt_row_copy_copy_co_1486882615/par-1/cnt_column_copy_1126/par-1/image_v2_copy_copy.img.16.medium.jpg/1738596713425.jpg)
St. Jude patient Rylee with her dad
There’s nothing that can prepare you for that kind of devastation
- Kaitlin, Rylee's mom
The family was referred to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. There, they learned they would never receive a bill for Rylee’s treatment, travel, housing or food. “It gave me light at the end of the tunnel to be able to continue providing for my family,” Miles said.
![St. Jude patient Rylee at the doctor's office.](/content/sites/www/en_US/home/about-st-jude/stories/meet-our-patients/patient-rylee-in-st-jude-commercial/jcr:content/par-1/cnt_row_copy_copy_co_1341470631/par-1/cnt_column_copy_1126/par-1/image_v2_copy.img.16.medium.jpg/1738596595312.jpg)
St. Jude patient Rylee
![St. Jude patien Rylee sitting on her dad's lap at the doctor's office.](/content/sites/www/en_US/home/about-st-jude/stories/meet-our-patients/patient-rylee-in-st-jude-commercial/jcr:content/par-1/cnt_row_copy_copy_co/par-1/cnt_column_copy_1126/par-1/image_v2.img.16.medium.jpg/1738364447711.jpg)
St. Jude patient Rylee with her dad
Rylee’s treatment included chemotherapy and surgery to remove the tumor. Despite the challenges, the family found solace at St. Jude. “Lots of caring people were very gracious with the amount of support and just love that they showed our family from the very first day we walked in,” Kaitlin said. “We weren’t just a patient, we were Rylee and Rylee’s family.”
Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — so they can focus on helping their child live.
Now back home, with Rylee’s scans showing no evidence of disease, the family has a newfound appreciation for ordinary life. They love watching the deer and turkeys that roam their property. Rylee’s laughter fills the air as she plays with Doppler, their corgi.
All you want is just a happy, healthy child. All the other stuff doesn’t matter. It really doesn’t.
Miles, Rylee's dad
![St. Jude patient Rylee being held between her parents.](/content/sites/www/en_US/home/about-st-jude/stories/meet-our-patients/patient-rylee-in-st-jude-commercial/jcr:content/par-1/cnt_row_copy_copy_co_970381307/par-1/cnt_column_copy_1126/par-1/image_v2_copy_copy_c.img.16.medium.jpg/1738362063716.jpg)
St. Jude patient Rylee at St. Jude with her parents
![St. Jude patient Rylee being held by her mother.](/content/sites/www/en_US/home/about-st-jude/stories/meet-our-patients/patient-rylee-in-st-jude-commercial/jcr:content/par-1/cnt_row_copy_copy_co_1611628973/par-1/cnt_column_copy_1126/par-1/image_v2_396458008_c.img.16.medium.jpg/1738596614340.jpg)
St. Jude patient Rylee with her mom
St. Jude won’t stop until no child dies from cancer, no matter where they live.