MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis is home to many things—Graceland, Beale Street, the Pyramid—and in 1962, it was also home to a small research hospital.
Now, that hospital has grown into St. Jude’s, which has pushed the survival rate from 20% to 80% for childhood cancer. It all began with entertainer Danny Thomas taking on something that was deemed incurable six decades ago.
The hospital helps children like Yara, who are getting better with St. Jude’s care.
“The gains that they’re making at St. Jude—they don’t stay in Memphis,” Brittany, Yara’s mom, said. “If you have this disease or genetic disorder…if your child is sick in St. Louis or sick in Memphis, St. Jude is going to do anything they can to help that child.”
Yara was diagnosed with a genetic mutation that keeps her bone marrow from producing normally. Because of St. Jude, her family will never receive a bill …