Seeds of goodness planted today could flourish tomorrow

My name is Grace and I’m a St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® leukemia survivor. I often wonder where I’d be without St. Jude or how my life would be different if I’d never had cancer. 

My childhood started normally enough. I’m the second youngest of four girls in my family. My sisters were my best friends. We went on family bike rides in our Central Illinois neighborhood and spent countless hours together at gymnastics practice.  

Of course, we fought sometimes. We were often on sugar highs and always so full of energy and laughter. 

Things changed for me in the summer of 2011 when nothing seemed fun anymore. I couldn’t tag along with my sisters outside, and I just didn’t feel up to going to gymnastics practice. My parents initially blew it off, claiming that I was being a “drama queen.” (In fairness to them, I was a dramatic kid!) 

But as the weeks went on and my symptoms worsened, we knew something wasn’t right, and my mom took me to the doctor. 

We learned I had a type of blood cancer called acute myeloid leukemia (AML).  

From that day forward, our lives changed in ways we never could have imagined. 

I was referred to St. Jude, where my doctors and nurses put their best efforts toward finding a way to save me. I underwent several rounds of chemotherapy, radiation therapy and a bone marrow transplant. 

My older sister was my transplant donor, so we joke that I’m never allowed to be mean to her again. 

But in all seriousness, without her and St. Jude, I might not be here today.  

St. Jude gave me my life back in all its ordinariness. I mean that in the best way.

The regular, everyday milestones of life have a glow to them now. 

I was able to graduate high school, get a driver’s license, have my first kiss, go to prom, move into a college dorm room and figure out my purpose in this world. 

It’s a life that every child deserves to experience. 

I am currently studying pre-medicine at college. My goal is to further pediatric cancer research at St. Jude. This hospital has given me so much and continues to do the same for thousands of children around the world every single day, and I want to be a part of it. 

Though it has been 13 years since my AML diagnosis, I am a part of the St. Jude LIFE program, a study that helps St. Jude researchers learn about the long-term health of childhood cancer survivors.  

Participating in St. Jude LIFE has helped me keep my post-cancer health on track. At one visit to St. Jude for the study in 2023, scans detected a papillary thyroid tumor at an early stage of growth. I was able to have the tumor removed before it could spread and become more serious.

Our incredible St. Jude family and our friends back home supported us so much during my cancer journey that my family wanted to give back. 

It all started with one seed.

Several years ago we put my mom’s love for gardening to the test. We built a community garden, which we called the St. Jude Giving Garden, to grow fresh fruits and vegetables.  

Members of our small-town, Illinois community can come and take whatever nutritious vegetables they want and leave a donation for the kids of St. Jude in return. 

Today, the garden thrives and it’s raised more than $30,000 for St. Jude.  

Sometimes I reflect on the path my life has taken. But then I bring myself back to this moment. I feel a sense of wonder and awe at this beautiful, crazy life.

I try to plant seeds of hope and goodness wherever I go, knowing that… 

Every single day is precious, and the people around us give fullness to our lives. 

I think we’re here for each other. Meaning, this is why we exist. 

This present moment has a glow to it. It’s full of wonder, awe and promise. 

So, I ask you:  

What will you do with this life? 

What will you do with this moment?