In 1958, Leland and Marilyn Karrick lost their two year old daughter Vicki Lynn (photo to the left) to a Wilms tumor, a solid cancerous tumor of the kidneys. At that time, there was little research and no cure. Today, about 85 to 90% of Wilms tumor patients with favorable histology can be cured. Histology is the way cells look under the microscope--in this case, tumor cells.
Since their daughter's passing, Leland and Marilyn have faithfully donated resources to St. Jude's with the hope that other families could be encouraged and cures to childhood cancers could be found. Your generous donation is a light of hope to St. Jude children and their families. St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
It costs a lot for St. Jude to cure a child with cancer using the latest technologies and care. But because of donations, the price for patient families is $0. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for anything.
Many families come to St. Jude thinking it's like any other hospital. They expect to pay high fees to get their child the best care. They're overwhelmed with gratitude when they learn St. Jude works to save their child's life for free using world-class care.
Your donations make this possible and give parents hope.