Thursday, March 28, 2024

April 2016

Gracie, 5 years oldgracie

Diagnosis: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Gracie’s story:

When 5-year-old Gracie didn’t want her belly touched, her mom feared appendicitis. In fact, the diagnosis as worse: acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a type of blood cancer that is also the most common form of cancer in children.

Referred to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, Gracie began a treatment plan of two and a half years of chemotherapy, at no cost to her family.

Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. “Everything St. Jude is doing for us, and we won’t have to pay a bill? That’s amazing,” said Gracie’s mom. “Being able to focus on nothing but your child is a wonderful thing.”

Gracie adores her care team at St. Jude. From her Child Life Specialist to her doctor, she calls them by name and doles out hugs and love-notes.

Please help us help kids like Gracie and their families.

To Donate, please visit www.prospectsplus.com/StJude

About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital:

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago.

St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent, and we won’t stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook (facebook.com/stjude) and following us on Twitter (@stjude).

Introducing 8 Year Old Leland

As proud supporters of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, we would like to introduce you to their patient of the month: Eight year old Leland!

His story:

In 2014, Leland started having headaches. His parents were concerned but not alarmed, because migraines run in the family. But then more symptoms appeared. Leland’s grandmother noticed he was holding his left arm funny. His mother, Marisa, noticed his smile was off kilter in a photograph. Soon, a series of tests revealed Leland suffered from an aggressive brain cancer known as an atypical teratoid/ rhabdoid tumor, or simply ATRT.

When considering treatment options, Marisa sought her doctor’s recommendation. “My doctor said, ‘If it was my child, I would be going to St. Jude,’” Marisa recalled. After receiving a referral, Leland and Marisa were on their way to Memphis.

At St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, Leland’s treatment has included surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. “St. Jude is amazing,” said Marisa. “Not just all the leaps and bounds they’re taking medically, and how many children they save, but how they don’t just treat his diagnosis. Kids can be kids here, and I think that helps a lot with their healing.”

Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. We won’t stop until no child dies from cancer.

Leland loves to make people laugh. He says silly things and never lets anything get him down. “He’s strong and amazing,” Marisa said. “I draw my strength from Leland, because he amazes me every day.” Some of Leland’s favorite things are tacos, baseball, kittens and the beach.  Watch a video about Leland here.

Here at ProspectsPLUS! we’ve committed to helping kids just like Leland and their families get the help, support, and medical attention they need. We’d love to have you join us in effort! 

ProspectsPLUS! Charitable Donations

To Donate, please visit www.prospectsplus.com/StJude