Why I support St. Jude:

St. Jude saved my life! In December of 2021, I found a bump near my collarbone. After lots of testing and imaging, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma. In January of 2022, I started treatment at the St. Jude Midwest Affiliate. After eight rounds of chemo, I was scanned again, and at that time, it was determined that I needed proton beam radiation. So, in April of 2022, my mom and I went to Memphis for several weeks of radiation treatment - 17 radiation treatments in all. My dad and sisters came to visit, and at the end of May, my mom and dad switched places so my mom could finish out the year at school with her students. Following my radiation treatment, I had yet another PET scan. That scan showed the two pesky spots that didn't clear up from chemo were still there. The doctors were puzzled. They decided to rescan four weeks later and make a decision. On the next set of scans, the doctors decided that since the spots that once again appeared on the scan were NOT growing (and they were actually still shrinking) that they are not cancer. So, in July of 2022, I had my chemo port removed. In October of 2022, I was scanned again and deemed in remission. On December 29th, 2022, I rang the bell at St. Jude and had a no mo' chemo party! I am so thankful for the treatment received at St. Jude. I am so thankful that my family did not have to worry about paying my medical bills when I got sick. My parents only had to worry about me getting better! And, thanks to St. Jude, I am currently a junior in high school who plays volleyball and basketball! I am looking forward to college and a career in the medical field. Unfortunately, not all St. Jude stories have a happy ending like mine does. In my short time of treatment, Central IL lost three teenagers to cancer. So, there is work to be done! I support the research they are doing to find more cures for cancer so no kids die in the dawn of their lives!