Brands supporting Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in 2024

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 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.

“St. Jude saved my son’s life,” she said. “St. Jude has done a lot for me, and not just for me but for other families as well.” Hayden will start school in September 2024. He enjoys playing with trucks, singing and playing with his cousins.